The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government, threatening an indefinite strike due to the government’s failure to honor the 2009 agreement reached with the union.
Timothy Namo, ASUU’s Bauchi Zonal Coordinator, made this declaration during a news conference in Jos, emphasizing that despite the union’s National Executive Council meeting between August 17 and 18, which issued a 21-day ultimatum, the government has not addressed their concerns.
“As we speak, the government has not honoured any of the agreements or addressed our concerns,” Namo stated, adding that at the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum, ASUU issued another 14-day ultimatum commencing from September 23.
He stressed that if ASUU decides to embark on an indefinite strike, Nigerians should hold the federal government responsible.
The lingering issues, according to Namo, include the non-conclusion of the re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement, non-release of three-and-half-month salaries of academic staff, unpaid salaries of academic staff on adjunct appointments, and outstanding third-party deductions.
Additionally, Namo cited poor funding for the revitalization of public universities, non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances as captured in the 2023 budget, proliferation of universities, and non-implementation of visitation panels’ reports to universities.
