The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced September 10, 2024, as Victimized Lecturers’ Day, a day set aside to raise awareness of the persistent managerial crises and the hardships faced by lecturers in Nigeria’s public universities.
ASUU’s National President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, made the announcement on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, during a press briefing at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
The briefing followed the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of ASUU, which was held in Ibadan, Oyo State. Professor Osodeke, flanked by fellow ASUU members, expressed deep concern over the victimization of lecturers across various universities in the country.
“Several lecturers in different Nigerian universities have either had their appointments terminated, their salaries withheld, or their promotions denied for standing up for the welfare of academic staff,” Osodeke stated.
Among the institutions where such actions have reportedly taken place are Kogi State University, Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Lagos State University (LASU), Ambrose Alli University, Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam.
ASUU specifically criticized the management of FUTO for the ongoing victimization of its members who opposed the conferment of a professorship title on the former Minister of Communication and Digital Technology, Isah Pantami. “We demand an immediate end to the harsh treatment meted out to our members by the FUTO management,” Osodeke added.
The union reiterated its demands for the Federal Government to review and sign the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, pay outstanding earned academic allowances, release withheld salaries, and address issues related to promotion arrears and third-party deductions of ASUU members’ funds.
Other pressing issues highlighted by ASUU include the stoppage of illegal retirements, the proliferation of public universities, and the abuse of university laws. The union also called for the removal of universities from the Single Treasury Account (TSA) and the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
“Seasoned and experienced scholars are fleeing to foreign countries, and the number of foreign lecturers and students coming to Nigeria has drastically declined due to the deplorable state of education in the country,” Osodeke lamented.
ASUU pointed out that while 95% of university students in Nigeria study in public universities, these institutions are still funded based on the pre-2009 agreement scale. The union has given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum to address all outstanding issues, vowing to take decisive action if their demands are not met.
