The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a 21-day notice to the federal government, disclosing plans to embark on an industrial action over what it described as unresolved issues.
The ASUU president, Emmanuel Osodeke told newsmen on Wednesday, at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, that the reason for the planned strike is the non-implementation of the agreement signed between both parties.
He highlighted the issues contained in the agreement to include emergency revitalisation fund of public universities, payment of outstanding earned academic allowances, and release of withheld salaries, promotion arrears, and third-party deductions of their members.
Other issues include stoppage of illegal recruitments, proliferation of public universities/abuse of universities’ laws, regulations and processes, and removal of universities from the treasury single account and new IPPIS to herald the autonomy of universities.
According to him, the union held its National Executive Council meeting at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, between Saturday 17 and August 18, 2024, where they undertook a comprehensive review of the outcomes from its engagements with federal and state governments on various outstanding issues.
He said: "The meeting further appraised worsening living and working conditions in our universities and the nation at large. The meeting received alarming reports on the failed promises of the government to address the lingering issues that forced the union to embark on the nationwide strike action of February-October 2022.
“Seasoned and experienced scholars have continued to flee to countries that are less resource-endowed, but where their expertise is better appreciated. Reports presented to NEC indicate that the government does not appreciate the enormity of the problem and the dire need to arrest the ugly trend with utmost urgency.
“Our union is worried that Government appears fixated on its self-serving approach of legalistic and bureaucratic arm-twisting.
“After extensive deliberations on the foregoing, among others, ASUU-NEC at its last meeting resolved to condemn in strong terms the seeming refusal of Federal and State Governments to decisively address all outstanding issues with ASUU.
"Reject the slow pace of intervention by the Minister for Education in resolving the aforementioned issues, give the government 21 days ultimatum to address all outstanding issues, and reconvene at the expiration of the 21 days’ notice to take appropriate decision(s) as deemed necessary."
