The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged Nigerians to intervene with the federal government (FG) to fulfill its requests for improved welfare and administrative conditions in public universities. This plea was made during a press conference held at Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu, on Friday.
Happiness Uduk, the zonal coordinator for ASUU Calabar zone, emphasized that unless the state and federal governments meet the union’s demands, a nationwide strike is likely unavoidable. ASUU has given a two-week ultimatum for these demands to be addressed, warning of impending industrial action if not met.
Uduk expressed disappointment over the FG’s failure to honor commitments made under the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement, citing stagnant salary scales and overall welfare deficiencies as ongoing concerns.
She said: “Government had an agreement with ASUU in 2009, which tells us that for 15 years running, ASUU members have been on the same salary scale, nothing has changed.
“We are requesting that government should complete negotiations it started with us more than 13 years ago, first with the Babalakin-led team, then the Munzali-led team, finally the Briggs-led team.
“These people had completed the negotiations, and if the negotiations had been completed and Mr President had the document, we don’t know why, for a year now, he has not called us to talk to us about it.
“So, the government should, as a matter of urgency, address our renegotiation and take into account current realities, including inflation rate, exchange rate and whatever needs to go into that,” Ms Uduk said.
She called on the federal and state governments to address issues bordering on revitalisation funds for public universities, payment of earned academic allowances and withheld salaries, high taxation and victimisation of ASUU members
She also said that ASUU strongly insisted on the removal of its members in federal universities from the Integrated Personnel Payroll System (IPPIS).
Ms Uduk further said that the high rate of taxation experienced by ASUU members was a result of “the introduction of an obnoxious platform” for salary payment.
“Whatever government has in mind with regards to that, it should use our University Transparency and Accountability Solution or any other platform that would originate from universities rather than the IPPIS,” she said.
She advised that the FG’s students loan scheme be replaced with grants which, she said, would alleviate financial stress on students and improve their academic pursuit.
Ms Uduk called on the FG to stop the proliferation of universities and focus on better funding for the existing ones to improve overall standards within the existing institutions.
She also advocated for the quick resolution of the minimum wage debacle and the introduction of a living wage that was obtained in saner climes.
On Abia, the ASUU zonal coordinator called on the Abia government to pay the 11 months salary arrears owed to lecturers in ABSU.
“We are not negotiating any part of that salary for anything because we have worked, taught students and examined them, and some of them have graduated,” Ms Uduk said.
She urged the Abia government to discontinue the use of Treasury Single Account in the payment of ABSU lecturers’ salaries and address the recent inconsistency in the payment of salaries.
According to her, the government is owing April, May and June salaries.
“Let the Abia Government leave payment in the hands of the university administrators and a platform that is consistent with the institution’s
