Strike Alert: ASUU Issues 14-Day Ultimatum to Tinubu’s Government

ASUU Issues 14-Day Ultimatum to Tinubu’s Government: Fulfill Promises or Face Strike.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has given President Bola Tinubu’s administration a two-week ultimatum to address outstanding demands, including the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and the release of withheld salaries due to the 2022 strike action. ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke accused the government of lacking commitment and using delaying tactics to fulfill promises, fueling a crisis in the public university system.

 Key Demands:

– Renegotiation of 2009 Agreement: Conclusion of the renegotiation based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021
– Release of Withheld Salaries: Payment of salaries withheld due to the 2022 strike action
– Unpaid Salaries for Staff: Release of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by IPPIS
– Funding for University Revitalization: Implementation of funding partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget
– Payment of Earned Academic Allowances: Payment of allowances partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget

ASUU warns that failure to address these issues within the 14-day ultimatum will lead to industrial disharmony, and the union should not be held responsible. The Tinubu government has previously approved a partial waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” order, releasing four months of withheld salary. However, ASUU demands more concrete actions to address the lingering crisis in the public university system.

Background:
The last ASUU strike occurred in 2022, lasting eight months, and was called off after the government agreed to address the union’s demands. However, ASUU claims the government has failed to fulfill its promises, prompting this new ultimatum.

The union’s president, Emmanuel Osokode, emphasized that the government’s inaction has led to increased stress, pauperization, and insecurity among academics, resulting in some deaths and life-threatening ailments. If the government fails to meet ASUU’s demands within the specified timeframe, the union may embark on another strike, disrupting tertiary education in Nigeria.