The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nigeria has issued a two-week ultimatum to the Bola Tinubu administration, warning of a strike if lecturers’ withheld salaries are not fully paid.
ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s decision to pay only four out of seven-and-a-half months’ withheld salaries, arguing that lecturers have covered the work missed during the 2022 strike period.
Osodeke emphasized: “It’s not about paying four months out of the seven-and-half months’ withheld salaries. Every university in Nigeria today is in the 2023/2024 academic year which means that by September/October, they will be in the 2024/2025 academic year.”
He criticized the government’s partial payment, stating that it does not adequately compensate lecturers for their sacrifices and dedication. “When you said you are paying four out of seven-and-half, I don’t think you are being fair to us,” Osodeke asserted.
Furthermore, Osodeke condemned the dissolution of Governing Councils in federal universities by the National Universities Commission (NUC) following a directive from President Tinubu. He alleged that universities have been operating without functional councils for the past 11 months, leading to illegal contracts and recruitments.
Osodeke emphasized: “Nobody anticipated that we will have a university that will run for two weeks without a Governing Council but Nigerian universities, all of them, have been running for the past 11 months without Governing Councils.”
ASUU demanded the reinstatement of dissolved Governing Councils, the conclusion of negotiations that began in 2017, and the payment of owed earned academic allowances. Osodeke warned that failure to address these issues within the stipulated two-week period would lead to further action by the union.
He criticized the disparity between funds allocated for road construction and those allocated for university workers’ salaries, emphasizing that adequate remuneration is essential to retain qualified lecturers in Nigeria. Osodeke lamented the low salaries earned by lecturers compared to previous years, urging the government to prioritize education funding.
In conclusion, Osodeke reiterated ASUU’s commitment to advocating for the rights and welfare of university workers, emphasizing the need for constructive dialogue and resolution of outstanding issues with the government. “The negotiation of the agreement that started in 2017 should be concluded, reinstate the dissolve Governing Councils, owed earned academic allowances should be paid,” he concluded.
