The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a stern 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, urging swift action on several unresolved matters affecting the public university system. ASUU’s demands center around the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and the release of withheld salaries linked to the 2022 strike action.

Speaking on behalf of the union, ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, expressed deep frustration with the government’s perceived lack of commitment and repeated delays in resolving these issues. “These actions are fueling a crisis in the public university system,” Osodeke said in a statement issued on Monday, September 23, 2024.

The union emphasized that if the government fails to address their demands within the newly extended deadline, ASUU should not be held responsible for any subsequent industrial unrest. This ultimatum follows a previously granted 21-day window, which the government failed to meet, intensifying the union’s resolve.

ASUU’s Key Demands:

1. Conclusion of the 2009 Agreement Renegotiation: ASUU insists that the renegotiation process based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021 be finalized immediately.
2. Release of Withheld Salaries: The union demands the payment of salaries for staff affected by the 2022 strike, including those on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct positions.
3. Payment of Outstanding Deductions: This includes outstanding third-party deductions, such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions.
4. Funding for Public Universities: ASUU seeks increased allocation of funds for the revitalization of public universities, as partially captured in the 2023 Federal Government budget.
5. Earned Academic Allowances: The union insists on the payment of outstanding allowances for academic staff, also included in the 2023 budget.
6. University Governance Reforms: ASUU demands the implementation of visitation panel reports, the reversal of the illegal dissolution of governing councils, and the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).

ASUU’s leadership cautions that failure to address these pressing matters will likely result in industrial action, which could severely disrupt the already fragile state of Nigeria’s higher education system.

“The union should not be held responsible for any industrial disharmony that arises from the government’s failure to seize this opportunity and resolve these issues,” Osodeke stated.

The clock is ticking as the government faces increasing pressure to avert a potential crisis in Nigeria’s public universities.