The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged that failure to reach an agreement with the federal government may exacerbate crises in public universities.
Members of the Benin Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) made the call during its emergency meeting at the University of Benin, Benin City.
The Zone led by Prof. Monday Igbafen, Zonal Coordinator, Benin Zone of ASUU, endorsed its National Body’s decision to issue an additional 14-day ultimatum to the government to resolve the lingering issues plaguing public universities.
“Following its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the University of Ibadan on August 17-18, 2024, the Union gave the government a 21-day ultimatum to address these issues,” he said.
“However, after reviewing the government’s response on September 19, 2024, the Union noted that the government had failed to fully address the concerns within the stipulated timeframe. Consequently, the Union granted an additional 14 days, starting from September 23, 2024.
“The Benin Zone of ASUU urged the Nigerian public, particularly critical stakeholders in the university system, to hold the government accountable for any potential paralysis resulting from industrial action if the demands remain unaddressed after the additional 14 days.
“The key issues in contention are: Renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021, release of withheld salaries due to the 2022 strike action, release of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by IPPIS, release of outstanding third-party deductions.
“Others include, funding for public university revitalization; payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), proliferation of universities by federal and state governments; implementation of visitation panels’ reports, illegal dissolution of Governing Councils, and deployment of University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as a replacement for IPPIS.”
The Union condemned the government’s repeated failure to agree to a renegotiation, which has lingered for over seven years.
The Benin zone of ASUU comprises the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Benin City; Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma; Adekunle Ajasin University (AAU), Akungba-Akoko; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECT), Okitipupa; Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka; Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Effurun; University of Delta (UNIDEL), Agbor, Delta State; University of Science and Technology (DSUST), Ozoro, and Dennis Osadebe University (DOU), Asaba.
