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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nsukka Zone, has voiced concerns over the Federal Government’s failure to resolve ongoing issues affecting Nigeria’s university system, warning that a fresh strike may be unavoidable if the situation persists.
The Zonal Coordinator of ASUU Nsukka Zone, Raphael Amokaha, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Makurdi.
He explained that the union has refrained from taking industrial action since the suspension of the 2022 strike out of patriotism and a desire to maintain harmony within the education sector.
However, the government’s continued neglect of critical issues may soon leave ASUU with no choice but to strike again.
“The Union has bent backwards to avoid industrial disharmony in our public universities by seeking an amicable resolution of the issues in contention,” Amokaha said.
Recalling the events that led to the 2022 strike, Amokaha criticized the government for dismissing a negotiated agreement and imposing a “take it or leave it” offer, leaving ASUU no option but to go on strike.
“We were forced into the 2022 strike by the government. What option was available to our union at that time? We had negotiated a reviewed agreement over five years (2017-2022) under three government-appointed negotiation chairmen, yet the government dismissed it and offered a unilateral award,” he explained.
Amokaha also lamented the continuous deterioration of the nation’s university system, stating that nothing has changed for the institutions or their staff over the past 15 years.
He added that efforts by ASUU to halt the decay and improve the welfare of university staff have been systematically blocked by the government.
“University workers are the only employees in Nigeria who have not had a salary review in over 15 years,” he emphasized.
The ASUU official warned that unless the Federal Government demonstrates sincerity in its negotiations and takes immediate steps to resolve the long-standing issues, the union will have no option but to embark on another strike.
Amokaha outlined ASUU’s key demands, which include finalizing the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the recommendations of the Nimi Briggs Committee, releasing salaries withheld during the 2022 strike, and paying salaries owed to staff on sabbatical, part-time, or adjunct appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
Other demands include the release of outstanding third-party deductions such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions, increased funding for the revitalization of public universities as outlined in the 2023 federal budget, payment of Earned Academic Allowances, and addressing the proliferation of universities by federal and state governments.
“The ball is now in the government’s court. If we go on strike, the blame lies squarely with the Federal Government,” Amokaha concluded.
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