ASUU Issues Fresh Warning, Threatens Nationwide Strike Over Unmet Demands!

The federal government has been warned by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to uphold the 2009 FG/ASUU agreement or risk a statewide strike.

ASUU President Chris Piwuna gave this warning on Friday at a press conference in Abuja. He emphasized how critical it is that the government keep its word and deal with the deteriorating circumstances at Nigerian colleges. Piwuna claims that nine important problems are still unresolved, including the renegotiation process that has been blocked since 2017. ‎

He brought up unpaid entitlements associated with the controversial Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and withheld salaries from the 2022 walkout. Piwuna also blasted the government’s inaction for delaying the transfer of revitalization funding and earned academic allowances.

He claimed that despite pledges to restructure irregular allowances and invest ₦150 billion in colleges by 2026, these promises have not been met. He emphasized how ASUU members are marginalized at public universities like Lagos State University and Kogi State University.

He claims that employee morale is weakened by ongoing victimization, wage denial, and job uncertainty in those universities. Regarding university autonomy, he cited Nnamdi Azikiwe and Abuja universities as examples of how political meddling has harmed the process of choosing leaders.

Piwuna issued a warning, calling it intolerable that universities are becoming arenas for political and commercial interests.

He argued that education is essential to Nigeria’s transformation and prosperity and called for a national rebirth through it. He suggested holding a national education summit with an emphasis on academic wellness, autonomy, and money in order to address the situation. “Education instills values, fosters innovation, and empowers citizens.”

“Development is impossible without it,” Piwuna stated. He asked for assistance from patriotic Nigerians and international friends, reinforcing ASUU’s dedication to revamping Nigerian colleges. “Our colleges ought to serve as hubs for finding answers to the problems facing the country. According to Piwuna, “We are open to dialogue but will not tolerate further erosion of our rights.” (NAN)