ASUU Issues 21-Day Ultimatum to Federal and State Governments, Threatens Nationwide Strike Over Unresolved University Issues

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a new 21-day ultimatum to the federal and state governments, demanding that they meet its demands or face the threat of a nationwide strike.

In 2022, ASUU initiated a strike to push the government to address various "outstanding issues" that were hindering the progress of the country's universities.

At a press conference held on Wednesday, August 21, at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike in Abia, ASUU National President Emmanuel Osodeke announced the union's plans.

According to Mr. Osodeke, the purpose of the news conference was to update the public on the outcomes of the union's National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, which took place at the University of Ibadan on August 17 and 18.

He stated that at the end of the 21-day notice period, the union would reconvene to make any necessary decisions.

Mr. Osodeke noted that the NEC condemned the federal and state governments' apparent reluctance to take a decisive stand on the issues raised by the union.

The union, he said, is particularly frustrated with the Minister of Education's "slow pace of intervention" in addressing these concerns.

The key issues highlighted by Mr. Osodeke include significant funding matters, such as the Emergency Revitalisation Fund for public universities, and the review and signing of the revised 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement. Additionally, they demand the release of withheld salaries, promotion arrears, unpaid earned academic allowances, and member third-party deductions.

“Other issues include the stoppage of illegal recruitments, the proliferation of public universities, and the abuse of universities’ laws, regulations, and processes,” he added.

Mr. Osodeke also mentioned the need to remove universities from the Treasury Single Account and revise the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) to restore the autonomy of the universities.

He emphasized that the NEC received "alarming reports" regarding the government's failure to address the ongoing issues that led to the union's nationwide strike from February to October 2022.

Furthermore, Mr. Osodeke announced that the union has designated Tuesday, September 10, as Victimised Lecturers' Day.

He explained, “The day would be used to show solidarity with our members who have been unjustly persecuted across the nation’s universities.”

Additionally, he stated that the union would use the day to express its dissatisfaction with the preventable labor-management issues at Federal University of Technology Owerri, Lagos State University, Kogi State University, and other universities.