ASUU Issues Fresh 14-Day Ultimatum to FG, Warns of Looming Strike Over Unresolved Varsities Issues

By: Abdulwasiu Akintunde 

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a fresh 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government (FG) to address unresolved issues in the country’s public Universities, warning of an impending strike if their demands are not met. 

This ultimatum, effective from Monday, September 23, follows an earlier 21-day notice issued after ASUU’s meeting at the University of Ibadan on August 17-18, 2024. 

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News, gathered that, the ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, in a statement released on Wednesday, emphasized that the union will not be responsible for any industrial action should the Government fail to take this opportunity to prevent the looming crisis.

Osodeke outlined key concerns that require immediate resolution from the FG, including the completion of renegotiations on the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s 2021 draft. 

He also called for the release of three-and-a-half months of salaries withheld due to the 2022 strike, unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical or part-time appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), and outstanding third-party deductions like check-off dues.

Other demands include, funding for the revitalization of public Universities and payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), both partially included in the 2023 budget, addressing the proliferation of Universities by federal and State Governments, implementing reports from visitation panels; and replacing IPPIS with the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).

Osodeke expressed frustration over the Government’s failure to fulfill previous agreements, particularly those between 2013 and 2020, leading to a worsening crisis in the higher education sector. 

He criticized the delay in renegotiating the FGN-ASUU Agreement, which has dragged on for over seven years, and stressed that wage awards cannot substitute for the finalization of the collective bargaining process.

OTN News further gathered that ASUU is also alarmed by the Government’s refusal to address non-monetary concerns, such as removing Universities from IPPIS, despite directives from both the President and the Courts.

The union’s leadership met on Thursday, September 19, to review the Government’s response and concluded that the 14-day extension is necessary to resolve these outstanding issues. 

Osodeke reiterated that if the FG fails to act within this period, ASUU will not be held accountable for any resulting industrial unrest.