ASUU Gives FG 10-Day Ultimatum To Meet Demands, Warns Of Fresh Strike
By MELVIN KOFFA
THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned the Federal Government to use the remaining 10 days of the one-month grace period granted to it to address all outstanding issues with the union or risk another round of strike action.
This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, following the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Taraba State University, Jalingo, between 8 and 9 November.
ASUU accused government officials of undermining the negotiation process by misrepresenting offers and exaggerating progress on implementation. The union said partial payments of arrears and deductions were merely “confidence-boosting gestures,” not the core of the dispute.
The lecturers’ demands include the review of the 2009 ASUU-FG agreement, payment of outstanding salaries and earned allowances, and release of the university revitalisation fund.
ASUU, which suspended its two-week warning strike on 22 October, had given the government until 22 November to resolve the issues or face an indefinite industrial action.
While acknowledging minor progress in non-monetary areas, the union rejected the proposed salary offer as “grossly inadequate,” saying it would not address the brain drain crisis or improve academics’ welfare.
The union faulted the government’s claim of insufficient funds, insisting the problem lies in poor prioritisation of education. It cited rising revenue allocations to both federal and state governments as proof of available resources.
ASUU urged traditional rulers, civil society groups, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to pressure the government to act, stressing that only genuine commitment could prevent another disruption of academic activities nationwide.
