ASUU Threatens New Strike Over Unresolved Issues with Government

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has sent a strong message to the Nigerian public. The union has urged citizens to hold the Federal Government accountable if public universities are shut down due to an impending strike. ASUU believes it has exhausted all avenues to avoid a strike, but the government has not responded sincerely to their concerns.

Government’s Neglect and Looming Strike

The ASUU-Nsukka Zone issued a statement on Wednesday in Makurdi through its Zonal Coordinator, Raphael Amokaha, titled “Let Good Conscience Prevail”. The statement recalled the long strike of 2022 and warned that a similar situation might be unfolding once again.

ASUU highlighted issues that have been ongoing for years. These include the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU/FGN Agreement, poor funding of universities, and the forceful introduction of the Integrated Personnel Payment Information System (IPPIS), which has undermined university autonomy. The non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), which was included in the 2023 budget, and other outstanding entitlements also remain unresolved.

Continuous Efforts to Avoid Strike Action

Since suspending the nationwide strike in October 2022, ASUU has tried multiple ways to prevent further disruptions in public universities. This has been done through the involvement of the National Industrial Court and ongoing attempts to engage with both the past and current governments.

The union feels the government’s nonchalant attitude is driven by an illusion of having control over ASUU. Despite campaign promises, the union believes the government has ignored its appeals, treating them with disdain.

For the past seven years, ASUU has consistently fought the same issues, always in a bid to avoid disruption in universities. The union has sought an amicable solution to these issues but has received no meaningful response from the government.

Call for Public Support

Amokaha stated that ASUU-Nsukka Zone believes they have done everything possible to avoid further disruptions to academic activities. The union now calls on public-minded individuals and all concerned citizens to join in their efforts to resolve these pressing concerns.

University workers are among the very few groups in Nigeria who have not had a salary review in the past fifteen years. The union has held multiple press briefings, protests, and town hall meetings, all aimed at avoiding strikes and urging the government to act, but none of these efforts have been successful.

Lack of Commitment from Government

ASUU noted that government agents have shown a lack of commitment. They have delayed meetings and made non-committal statements rather than being sincere about finding a solution.

The union referred to the Nigerian President’s speech on the 64th Independence Anniversary, where the President mentioned a planned month-long youth conference. ASUU questioned whether such a conference could compare to four years of a stable academic calendar in providing a bright future for the nation’s youth. They emphasised that a conference cannot accommodate the vast number of students in over seventy public universities across the country.

The Need for a Serious Commitment to Education

If the government truly cares about the youth and the nation, ASUU stressed that education must be taken seriously. To avoid another crisis in public universities and secure the future of young people, ASUU urged the government to act with conscience and responsibility.

Despite their hopes fading with the current administration, ASUU has not given up entirely. The union remains resilient and continues to press for positive change.

ASUU-Nsukka Zone has made it clear that if the government pushes the union into an industrial action, then the government alone must be held responsible. All appeals for a solution at that time should be directed to the government, not the union.