The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has enjoined members of the public to prevail on the federal government to concede to all of its demands so that the disruption of academic calendars will be averted.
Drawing attention to the looming crisis in the university system, ASUU said that it will not allow its members’ welfare to be subjected to the government’s delay tactics.
ASUU Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Biodun Olaniran, said this on Monday at a press conference by the Ibadan zone of ASUU, which was held at UI ASUU Secretariat, Ajibode Extension, Ibadan.
The Ibadan zone of ASUU comprises the University of Ibadan, Ibadan; University of Ilorin, Ilorin; Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso; Osun State University, Osogbo; Kwara State University, Malete; and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo).
In attendance were other chairpersons, including Dr Adefemi Afolabi, ASUU-UI; Dr Alex Akanmu, ASUU-UNILORIN; Dr Olujimi Dada, ASUU-LAUTECH; Dr Wande Olaosebikan, ASUU-UNIOSUN; Prof. Shehu Salau, ASUU-KWASU; and Dr Bamidele Ojo, ASUU-EAUED.
In his address, the Zonal Coordinator, Olaniran, said that the looming crisis is fueled by the way the government has been handling unresolved issues affecting the Nigerian public universities in a frustrating manner.
According to Prof. Olaniran, the issues include the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, sustainable funding/revitalisation of universities, university autonomy and victimisation of ASUU members in LASU, KSU and FUTO.
Others are outstanding 25-35 per cent salary arrears and third-party deductions, promotion arrears for over four years, and non-payment and mainstreaming of earned academic allowance in public universities.
He decried the stagnation of members’ salaries for the past 16 years despite the 2009 renegotiated agreement of review every three years.
He spoke of how it took the government eight years to constitute a renegotiation committee, with successive ones set up to engage the ASUU, eventually resulting in reaching a draft agreement in 2021 between ASUU and Prof. Nimi Briggs-led Committee.
