ASUU Charges FG To Pay Withheld Salaries To Avert A Fresh Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Abuja Zone, has urged the Federal Government to implement the 2009 agreement and release three and a half months of withheld salaries to avert a fresh strike.

Naija News reports that the Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Al-Amin Abdullahi, made the call at a news conference in Abuja on Monday, warning that neglect of the education sector was jeopardising Nigeria’s future.

Abdullahi said, “There is a crisis that is affecting universities in Nigeria, and it is not just a problem for ASUU; it is a problem for the entire country.

“The purposeful mortgage of a nation’s future and the endangerment of generations yet to be born is the result of a nation’s disregard of education. Until Nigeria has a university system that assures effective education, excellent research, innovation, and sustainable national development, ASUU will not give up.”

The Abuja Zone is demanding:

Payment of members’ promotion arrears

Unconditional release of three-and-a-half months’ withheld salaries

Release of third-party deductions to the union and cooperatives

Payment of one year’s arrears of 25/35 per cent of the salary award

Implementation of new conditions of service for academics

Adoption of UTAS as the university payment system.

Decaying Infrastructure in Universities

Abdullahi lamented the systemic underfunding of universities by successive governments, which, he said, had led to deteriorating infrastructure.

“Overcrowded classrooms, laboratories that are inadequately equipped, and hostel amenities that are uninhabitable,” he noted.

According to him, the neglect has created unconducive learning environments and contributed to the decline in the global ranking of Nigerian universities.

The ASUU leader stressed that in line with UNESCO recommendations, both federal and state governments must prioritise education by increasing annual budgetary allocations.

He acknowledged that dialogue with the government had prevented nationwide strikes in the past two years but warned that unresolved issues could reignite industrial action.

Abdullahi listed outstanding items in the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, including revitalisation of public universities, university autonomy, academic freedom, and renegotiation of conditions of service.

“The reassessment of the legal frameworks for regulating bodies like the National Universities Commission and JAMB has remained unresolved,” he said.