The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has added another 14 days to the earlier 21 days ultimatum given to the Federal Government to resolve all the lingering issues that have forced it to prosecute strike actions in the past years.
The National Executive Council (NEC) ASUU at a meeting held at the University of Ibadan, communicated the ultimatum to the Federal Government through the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, via a letter dated August 20, 2024.
This was contained in a statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune and signed by the zonal coordinator, ASUU, Akure zone, Dr Adeola Oyebisi, Egbedokun.
According to the statement, the issues in contention include: conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, based on Nimi Briggs Committee›s Draft Agreement of 2021, release of withheld three and half months’ salaries due to 2022 strike actions, release of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by the integrated payroll and personnel information system (IPPIS), release of outstanding third-party deduction such as check-off dues and Cooperative contributions and funding for the revitalisation of public universities, partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget.
Others are payment of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA),partly captured in the 2023 Federal and state Governments Budget, proliferation of Universities by Federal and State Government, Implementation of the reports of visitation panels to Universities,Ilegal dissolution of Governing Councils,and University Transparency and Accountability Solutions (UTAS) as a replacement for IPPIS.
The statement reads further that “consequent upon the union’s advocacy spanning almost one decade, our union went into the renegotiation with the FGN in 2017. Starting with the Wale Babalakin-led Joint Renegotiation Committee, which unfortunately broke down owing to Dr Babalakin’s high-handedness and fixation to unworkable anti-worker ideas as terms of agreement. The Federal Government dropped Professor Professor Jibril and directed the Late Emeritus Professor Nimi Briggs to take over the negotiation and a draft Agreement was reached with the Professor Briggs-led Committee in 2021.
“Unfortunately, the agents of the Buhari government refused to approve the draft Agreement for some reasons best known to them. The current government led by Ahmed Bola Tinubu has chosen the same path as his predecessor.”
The union therefore called on President Tinubu-led administration to set in motion, the process leading to the review and signing of the Nimi Briggs-led renegotiation draft agreement as a mark of goodwill and hope for public universities,
“The government’s failure to implement the recommendation of visitation panels and amend the National Universities Commission (NUC) Act to prevent the proliferation of public universities, despite claiming lack of funds to support existing institutions, is not only alarming but embarrassing. ASUU had to make noise before panels were sent to universities; thankfully they were sent and completed their jobs.»
“Also, the government refusal to address non-monetary issues such as the removal of universities from Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) despite a presidential directive and court order is deeply concerning.”
In 2020, ASUU responded to the government›s challenge to provide an alternative and more efficient payment platform by developing the University Transparency and Accountability (UTAS), a purely homegrown technology solution. However, the government has refused to accept this alternative despite its superiority to IPPIS,” it added.
Reiterating ASUU’s firm belief in the principles of dialogue and collective bargaining, as enshrined in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, for resolving all issues, the statement noted that ASUU had been consulting leaders of thought, including former presidents, traditional rulers, religious leaders, among others on how to peacefully resolve the lingering issues to the benefit of Nigeria‘s public universities system and the nation at large.
“In view of the foregoing, beginning from Monday, September 23, to ASUU resolved to give the Nigerian government another 14 days, in addition to the earlier 21-day, during which all lingering issues must have been concretely addressed to the satisfaction of the membership of the union,” the statement noted.
