ASUU Threatens Strike Over Non-Constitution Of University Governing Councils

ASUU Threatens Strike Over Non-Constitution Of University Governing Councils

Abuja – The relative peace in the university sys­tem may once again come under jeopar­dy, following a fresh strike threat coming from the Academic Staff Union of Uni­versities (ASUU).

The academics gave Tinubu two weeks ultimatum to address all outstanding de­mands including delay in constituting governing councils for the universities since assumption of office as president.

ASUU’s fresh threat of industrial ac­tion is the first since the Tinubu admin­tion took over power on May 29, 2023.

The last time the union went on strike was in 2022 shortly before the end of the Muhammadu Buhari’s ad­ministration.

ASUU’s President, Em­manuel Osodeke, took to a briefing at its headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, to lament their predicament, saying the living conditions of academ­ics is getting worse.

Osodeke noted that the leadership of ASUU received alarming reports on failed promises of the federal and state governments towards addressing the lingering is­sues that forced the union to embark on the nationwide strike action of February to October 2022.

Speaking further, Osode­ke noted that the National Executive Council of ASUU observed that there were no serious efforts to redress the ugly situation.

“Reports available to NEC indicate that an increasing number of Nigerian academ­ics died while thousands of others are nursing life-threat­ening ailments occasioned by work-related stress, absolute pauperization and multidi­mensional insecurity,” Os­odeke said.

Osodeke who faulted the salary increment approved by the Federal Government recently for academics, said, “Even with paltry salary award, the current take-home pay of a professor at bar is about $500 per month. In the face of a heightened tax re­gime, what a professor earns is about $400 per month which is a scandalous under-valua­tion of the scholarship.”

The body said it is imme­diately calling on the govern­ment to immediately set in motion the process that will lead to the review and signing of the Nimi Briggs-led rene­gotiated draft agreement as a mark of goodwill and assured hope for Nigerian public uni­versities.

Speaking on the dissolu­tion of the governing coun­cils by the Federal Govern­ment 11 months ago, Osodeke urged the citizens to hold the government responsible, “if the matter of the Governing Councils is allowed to snow­ball into an avoidable indus­trial crisis.”

Osodeke also noted that the position of the union remains unchanged over the issue of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System popularly known as IPPIS.

In conclusion, Osokode said, “NEC condemns in strong terms the seeming re­fusal of the federal and state governments to decisively address all outstanding issues with the union; NEC rejects all the ongoing illegalities and flagrant violation of uni­versity autonomy in public universities as a result of non-reinstatement of Govern­ing councils and NEC shall re­convene after two weeks from the date of the NEC meeting to review the situation and take a decisive action to ad­dress the issues.”