ASUU Gives 21-Day Ultimatum to Government to Address Outstanding Issues
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal and State Governments to address the “outstanding issues” hindering the development of the nation’s universities. The ultimatum was announced by ASUU National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, at a press conference held at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike in Abia, on Wednesday.
According to Osodeke, the 21-day notice period will give the government ample time to address the issues raised by the union. If the government fails to comply, the union will take appropriate decisions, as deemed necessary.
Some of the issues highlighted by the ASUU National President include the review and signing of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, impactful funding, including the Emergency Revitalisation Fund for public universities. Other issues include the payment of outstanding earned academic allowances, release of withheld salaries, promotion arrears and third-party deductions of ASUU members.
Osodeke also criticized the slow pace of the Minister of Education’s intervention in resolving the outstanding issues, and condemned the refusal of the Federal and State Governments to address the issues being raised by the union. The ASUU boss expressed concern about the seeming refusal by the government to heed the union’s demands.
In related news, ASUU has declared Tuesday, September 10, 2024 as Victimised Lecturers’ Day. The union plans to use this day to solidarity with its members who have been unjustly persecuted across the nation’s universities, as well as to express its displeasure with the avoidable labour-management crises at various universities.
Osodeke also rejected the Federal Government’s recent move to divert the Tertiary Education Trust Fund’s (TETFund) intervention grants to the Students’ Education Loan Scheme. According to him, this move is antithetical to the original intendment of the Law establishing the Education Tax Fund, which now operates as TETFund.
The press conference was attended by the Zonal Coordinator, ASUU Owerri Zone, Prof. Dennis Aribodor, among other ASUU officials and members.
