The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is warming up for another industrial action if the Federal Government does not fulfill its commitment to release N170 billion allocated for university revitalisation in the 2023 budget.
This reason among some other is listed in the warning issued by Prof. Adelaja Odukoya, the coordinator of ASUU’s Lagos zone, during a press conference held in Lagos.
The ASUU Lagos Zone, represents a consortium of institutions including the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Lagos State University (LASU), Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Lagos University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Lagos University of Education (LASUED), and the Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB).
The group has expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s inaction on several fronts.
Top on the list of grievances listed by Prof. Odukoya include the failure to release the agreed revitalization funds, proliferation of federal and state universities without adequate financial backing, delay in renegotiating the 2009 Agreement, reliance on the “deceptive IPPIS” payment platform.
Other grievances are: delay in disbursing Earned Academic Allowances, persistent use of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) for university operations, incomplete payment of eight months’ withheld salaries, failure to recall sacked ASUU officials at LASU, and withholding the university’s white paper on the 2021 Visitation Panel.
ASUU criticized the “No-Work No-Pay” policy applied during the previous administration, highlighting the financial strain it imposed on lecturers amid the current economic challenges.
Although there has been partial payment of withheld salaries, the union deems it insufficient and calls for immediate action to address these grievances comprehensively.
Prof. Odukoya urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene promptly to prevent another strike, emphasizing the critical need for improved funding and attention to the public university system.
ASUU also appeals to the media, labor movements, student organizations, and civil societies to rally support for the academic community in its quest to enhance Nigeria’s educational infrastructure.
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