ASUU threatens indefinite strike over FG’s failure to honour agreement

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a fresh warning of an indefinite strike due to the Federal Government’s failure to honour the 2009 agreement reached with the union.

Prof. Timothy Namo, ASUU’s Bauchi Zonal Coordinator, made this known during a press briefing in Jos on Friday.

Prof. Namo explained that the union had earlier given the government a 21-day ultimatum following its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held between August 17 and 18.

With the government yet to meet their demands, ASUU extended the ultimatum by an additional 14 days starting on September 23.

“As we speak, the government has not honoured any of the agreements or addressed our concerns,” Namo stated.

“We want Nigerians to know that the Federal Government will be to blame if ASUU decides to embark on an indefinite strike and shut down public universities.”

The key unresolved issues include the non-conclusion of the re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement, non-release of three-and-half-month salaries of academic staff, unpaid salaries for adjunct academic staff, and outstanding third-party deductions.

Other grievances highlighted by Namo include poor funding for the revitalization of public universities, the non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) as included in the 2023 budget, the unchecked proliferation of universities, and the non-implementation of visitation panel reports for universities.

ASUU has repeatedly raised concerns about the deterioration of the nation’s public university system and the government’s lack of commitment to addressing the sector’s long-standing issues.

The looming strike threatens to disrupt academic activities across public universities if a resolution is not reached soon.