The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on the Federal Government to uphold and implement the agreement reached with the union to prevent a potential strike. Abdulqadir Muhammad, ASUU Coordinator for the Kano Zone, made this appeal during a press conference following a zonal meeting in Kano.
One of the key issues highlighted by Muhammad is the need to renegotiate the 2009 agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU. He pointed out that the agreement was made when the exchange rate was N146 to the U.S. dollar, compared to the current rate of N1,900, which has significantly reduced the value of salaries for ASUU members.
Muhammad expressed concern that the government has been reluctant to sign the draft agreement reached with the union, even after a new negotiation committee was constituted. He called on President Bola Tinubu to expedite the process of reviewing and signing the renegotiated draft agreement as a gesture of goodwill to prevent an industrial crisis and restore confidence in Nigeria’s public universities.
Regarding salary issues, Muhammad confirmed that ASUU members have received partial payment of their seven-month withheld salaries. He emphasized the importance of ensuring full payment of the remaining balance. The union also urged the Kaduna state government to pay the five-month withheld salaries of Kaduna State University staff.
ASUU also called for the payment of Earned Academic Allowances and promotion arrears, which were neglected after the agreement. The union condemned the dissolution of Governing Councils of public universities, stating that it violated the Universities Miscellaneous Acts and respective university laws.
Additionally, ASUU advocated for a review of the Nigeria University Commission (NUC) Act to address the proliferation of universities in the country without adequate funding provisions.
In addressing the state of the nation, ASUU expressed concern about the insecurity, poverty, unemployment, rising cost of living, displacement, and destitution in Nigeria. The union called on various groups, including the media, civil society, labor movement, and student groups, to support its efforts to improve Nigerian public universities.
ASUU urged President Bola Tinubu to faithfully implement the agreements signed with the union through collective bargaining.
Daily Nigerian