The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has given the Federal Government a two-week deadline to address its demands for improved welfare and administrative conditions in public universities, threatening a nationwide strike if unmet.
During a press conference at Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu, on Friday, Mrs. Happiness Uduk, ASUU’s Zonal Coordinator for Calabar Zone, emphasized the critical need for the government to address these issues to avert the strike.
Uduk criticized the government’s failure to honor commitments made in the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement, resulting in stagnant salary scales and negligible welfare improvements over the past 15 years.
“ASUU members have been on the same salary scale for 15 years without any change,” Uduk lamented. “We urge the government to complete the negotiations initiated over 13 years ago, under different teams, and take into account current economic realities such as inflation and exchange rates.”
She called for immediate action on several fronts: renegotiating terms, addressing the revitalization fund for public universities, paying academic allowances, resolving withheld salaries, reducing high taxation, and ending the alleged victimization of ASUU members.
ASUU also demands the removal of its members from the Integrated Personnel Payroll System (IPPIS), proposing the University Transparency and Accountability Solution or similar internally developed platforms instead.
On student finances, Uduk suggested replacing the Federal Government’s student loan scheme with grants to ease financial burdens and enhance academic pursuits.
Uduk also urged the government to halt the proliferation of new universities and instead focus on increasing funding to improve standards at existing institutions.
She called on the Abia Government to promptly settle the 11-month salary arrears owed to ABSU lecturers and criticized the use of the Treasury Single Account for salary payments, recommending a system better aligned with the university’s operational needs.
Highlighting issues at Ebonyi State University, Uduk called for the immediate reinstatement of some members who have allegedly been suspended without pay for over two years.
Uduk concluded by stating that ASUU’s ongoing engagement with stakeholders aims to prompt swift government action. If unresolved, ASUU plans to commence a nationwide strike in two weeks.
