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ASUU Threatens Strike with 14-Day Deadline for Government Action
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has delivered a stern 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, signaling a potential strike action rooted in unresolved grievances that span more than a decade.
In a statement released by Namo Timothy Aku, the Bauchi Zonal Coordinator, ASUU warned that failure to meet their demands could plunge public universities into another shutdown.
This ultimatum follows a history of strained relations between ASUU and the Federal Government, dating back to the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement.
The agreement, meant to address the revitalization of public universities, better funding, and the welfare of academic staff, has remained largely unimplemented, leading to recurrent industrial actions.
Research shows that since 2009, ASUU has embarked on multiple strikes, protesting unmet promises on the same issues: unpaid salaries, university autonomy, and infrastructural development.
The current 14-day ultimatum comes after a 21-day deadline that expired on September 14, 2024, with no meaningful response from the government.
Among the unresolved matters are the re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement, the release of unpaid salaries for academic staff, funding for university revitalization, and the replacement of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) with the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).
ASUU’s statement draws attention to a 2023 Presidential directive and a court order mandating the exit of universities from IPPIS, which have yet to be enforced.
Furthermore, the union pointed out that despite increased revenue from the removal of oil subsidies and the naira’s devaluation, the government has failed to prioritize education.
Citing past experiences, ASUU argues that the Federal Government’s “time-buying tactics” and reluctance to allocate adequate funds continue to undermine the quality of education in Nigeria.
The union maintains that it has made repeated efforts to engage the government constructively, but the lack of political will and commitment has fueled growing frustration within the academic community.
As ASUU sets another deadline—this time for October 7, 2024—the public awaits the government’s response.
The union made it clear that it should not be blamed for any disruption to academic activities after the ultimatum expires.
TV anchor Rufai Oseni makes headlines as he speaks on fuel subsidy in Nigeria. He shared that Nigeria can have fuel subsidy without the long queues at filling stations.
“When we were still paying subsidies, there were no long queues. We were subsidising. So you can still have a subsidy regime going on, and there will be no long queues because production was close by. Dangote had it. That’s just it. That argument also falls flat.
“The biggest beneficiaries of subsidy are not Nigerians. They are crony capitalists that have big infrastructure, and they do contracts. They have been the biggest beneficiaries of the subsidy,” he said.
Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu, speaks to those in the electricity sector about the usual blackouts in the state.
He speaks on ways things can change in the state and how electricity can be provided.
“We need to drop corporate egos, abandon long-standing excuses, and confront the harsh realities obstructing progress in the power sector.”
“We, state governments, used to give excuses that everything is centralised, so the Federal Government has unbundled it now. What have we done in a year and a half?” Sanwo-Olu asked.
“We take two steps forward, we go five steps backward,” he said.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared Thursday, August 20, a work-free day for public servants in the state to mark the Isese Festival.
Speaking on the celebration, he said “Ìṣẹ̀ṣe is not a relic. It is a living expression of our traditions and a celebration of Yoruba spirituality as an important part of Nigeria’s cultural and religious landscape,” he said.
He added “When the drums sound in Lagos on Thursday, they answer drums in Havana, in Salvador, in Port of Spain. Fifty-five million people and counting. Lagos is not observing a local holiday. Lagos is standing at the centre of a global heritage,” Aregbe said.
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