ASUU gives 14-day ultimatum to FG over unresolved issues

.Says it shouldn’t be held responsible for any industrial action that might result from govt’s failure to meet new deadline

By Ukpono Ukpong

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a fresh 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address several unresolved issues affecting the country’s public universities.

During this time, the union expressed optimism that government will concretely address all unresolved issues to the satisfaction of its members.

ASUU made it clear that it should not be held responsible for any industrial action that might result from the government’s failure to meet this new deadline.

“ASUU resolves to give the Nigerian Government another 14 days, in addition to the earlier 21 days, beginning from Monday, 23rd September 2024 during which all the lingering issues must have been concretely addressed to the satisfaction of the membership of the union. The union should not be held responsible for any industrial disharmony that arises from government’s failure to seize the new opportunity offered by ASUU to nip the looming crisis in the bud,” the union said.

This extension follows the 21-day ultimatum previously issued by the union and comes amid rising tensions over the government’s failure to meet various demands outlined in the 2009 Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN)/ASUU Agreement.

The union’s concerns were reiterated in a statement signed by ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, after a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Ibadan.

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Key among the unresolved matters are the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, which has lingered for seven years, and the payment of withheld salaries from the 2022 strike action.

The union has also raised concerns over the implementation of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as a replacement for the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), among other issues.

ASUU stressed that the government’s failure to address these issues threatens the stability of the country’s public university system.

In a statement issued after their September 19, 2024 meeting, ASUU noted that the Nigerian government has repeatedly failed to fully implement the Memoranda of Understanding and Memoranda of Actions (MOUs/MOAs) that were agreed upon between 2013 and 2020.

The union expressed frustration at the government’s refusal to finalize the renegotiation of the FGN-ASUU Agreement, emphasizing that the continued delay is exacerbating the crises in universities, especially in light of Nigeria’s current economic challenges.

ASUU criticised the government’s wage awards, which they argued cannot replace a properly negotiated and concluded agreement.

According to Osodeke, the government’s reluctance to address non-monetary issues, such as removing universities from IPPIS, despite a presidential directive and court order, further complicates the situation.

It would be recalled that the union had long advocated for UTAS, a homegrown alternative developed to improve efficiency in university payrolls, but the government has yet to adopt it, presidential directive.

ASUU also raised concerns over the government’s failure to implement recommendations from visitation panels to universities and to amend the National Universities Commission (NUC) Act to curb the proliferation of public universities.

The union noted that while the government cites insufficient funding as a reason for not supporting existing institutions, it continues to establish new universities. ASUU accused the government of prioritizing political and financial gains over the quality of education, referring to the actions of government officials as a pursuit of “contractoracy” and constituency projects.

“What has become clear from recent engagements is that the current government has continued with the old antics, characterized by bureaucratic bottlenecks, time-buying tactics, denial of documentations, and lack of budgetary provisions, to confound and complicate matters,” the statement read.

ASUU further pointed out that despite budgetary allocations for the revitalization of public universities and the payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), these funds have yet to be disbursed. The union also expressed frustration over the government’s failure to heed a presidential directive to remove university workers from IPPIS, despite almost a year having passed since the order.

ASUU’s leadership has accused the government of lacking the political will to resolve the issues, stating that the claims of insufficient funds do not hold water. The union referenced the significant financial inflows from the removal of fuel subsidies and the devaluation of the naira, which have boosted government revenues. The statement argued that if the government truly prioritized education, the lengthy standoff with ASUU would have been resolved by now.

Despite the ongoing crisis, ASUU reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue and collective bargaining as enshrined in International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions. The union revealed that it has been consulting with key stakeholders, including former presidents, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and the National Assembly, to find a peaceful resolution to the ongoing issues in the Nigerian university system. However, ASUU warned that the government’s continued use of delay tactics and unfulfilled promises is only deepening the crisis.

The union urged the Nigerian public, particularly well-meaning citizens, to pressure the government to act swiftly. ASUU emphasized the importance of quality and accessible education in achieving the African Union’s (AU) Agenda 2063, a vision for a prosperous and integrated Africa. The union reminded the government that 2024 has been declared the AU Year of Education, urging Nigerian leaders to stop neglecting the education sector that once benefited them.