Daud Olatunji
The Lagos Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has sounded an urgent warning to the Nigerian government, calling for immediate intervention to resolve long-standing issues that continue to cripple the country’s public university system.
In a press statement issued on Sunday, September 29, 2024, the union extended its ultimatum by an additional 14 days, urging the Nigerian public, civil society organizations, and political leaders to prevail on the Federal Government to act decisively before the window for negotiation closes.
The Zonal Coordinator, Dr. Adelaja Odukoya, reiterated that the union would not hesitate to embark on industrial action if the government fails to address the key issues affecting university lecturers and the entire educational system.
The statement follows a 21-day ultimatum issued by the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU during its meeting at the University of Ibadan in August, which demanded that the government resolve critical matters threatening the stability of public universities.
Among the unresolved issues highlighted by ASUU include the completion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, which has been stalled since 2021.
The union also demanded the release of withheld salaries from the 2022 strike action and payment of salaries for staff affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) issues since 2018.
The union further called for the payment of outstanding third-party deductions such as cooperative contributions and check-off dues, which have remained unpaid.
ASUU has also insisted on the need for funding to revitalize public universities, as outlined in the 2023 federal budget, and the payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), which has only been partially addressed.
Other pressing concerns include the proliferation of universities by both Federal and State Governments without adequate planning, the failure to implement visitation panel reports, the unlawful dissolution of governing councils, and the government’s refusal to adopt the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) in place of IPPIS, which ASUU describes as inefficient and corruption-ridden.
ASUU expressed frustration over the government’s unwillingness to address non-financial issues such as the adoption of UTAS, which the union claims is a superior and more cost-effective alternative to IPPIS.
Despite a Presidential order and court verdict in favor of addressing these issues, the government has shown little political will to resolve the matter.
“The government’s refusal to embrace UTAS, which was developed by ASUU in response to its request for an efficient payment platform, epitomizes the lip service paid to the fundamental challenges plaguing Nigerian public universities,” the statement read.
ASUU accused the government of using “pranks” such as withholding agreement papers and minutes of meetings to confuse and complicate negotiations.
ASUU also criticized the recent proposal by the Presidency to amend the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Act to divert 30 percent of its funds towards the government’s new student loan scheme.
The union likened this move to “pillaging the nation’s heritage” and argued that the government’s claim of insufficient funds to support existing institutions was false, given the reckless creation of new tertiary institutions.
The union decried the government’s failure to implement recommendations from visitation panels and amend the National Universities Commission (NUC) Act to prevent the proliferation of public universities, which has worsened the challenges faced by the higher education sector.
In its statement, ASUU called on well-meaning Nigerians, labor unions, religious leaders, and civil society organizations to pressure the Tinubu-led government to engage meaningfully with the union and resolve the outstanding issues.
The union emphasized that it should not be blamed for any industrial action that may follow if the government fails to act within the 14-day extension of the initial ultimatum.
“The best way to resolve this lingering crisis is for the government to show commitment to the collective bargaining principles established in the conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO),” Dr. Odukoya said.
ASUU also invited the National Peace Committee (NPC) to intervene, stressing that another strike would further damage the already fragile public university system.
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