By Ologeh Joseph Chibu
Federal Government has been asked to address the pressing concerns surrounding public education in Nigeria.
If this is not done, the lecturers may begin nationwide strike in the next 14 days.
At a press conference in Owerri, Imo State, the zonal coordinator, ASUU Owerri zone, Mr Dennis Aribodor, accused the government of neglecting the public education sector through chronic underfunding.
He also criticized the treatment of university lecturers, comparing their conditions to “16th-century slavery.”
Aribodor warned that if the Federal Government does not take immediate action on lecturers’ welfare, ASUU nationwide would be forced to shut down universities within the next 14 days.
Major Unresolved Issues:
- Conclusion of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement: Based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s 2021 draft, the renegotiation process remains incomplete.
- Unpaid Salaries: Three-and-a-half months of withheld salaries from the 2022 strike action, along with unpaid salaries for those on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
- Third-Party Deductions: Outstanding deductions such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions have yet to be released.
- Funding for Revitalization: Allocations in the 2023 federal budget for university revitalization have not been fully disbursed.
- Earned Academic Allowances (EAA): Payments captured in the 2023 budget remain unpaid.
- Proliferation of Universities: Unchecked establishment of new universities by both federal and state governments.
- University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS): A proposed homegrown alternative to IPPIS, UTAS has been sidelined by the government despite its advantages.
Aribodor expressed frustration at the government’s refusal to address these concerns, despite previous presidential directives and court orders. He emphasized that the government’s failure to honor the 2009 agreement and other commitments has worsened the situation, leading to further instability in the university system.
Long-Standing Issues and Government Inaction
ASUU’s grievances date back to 2009, when a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the union and the government. However, according to Aribodor, the government has failed to fully implement these agreements over the years, leading to recurrent crises in the university sector.
“The failure to conclude the renegotiation of the FGN-ASUU Agreement has dragged on for over seven years,” he said, adding that the government has consistently delayed actions while hiding behind bureaucratic obstacles and inadequate budgetary provisions.
Aribodor further criticized the Federal Government’s rejection of UTAS, a payroll solution developed by ASUU, despite its clear benefits over the controversial IPPIS system. He noted that the government has ignored the recommendations of visitation panels and has not amended the National Universities Commission Act to prevent the indiscriminate creation of new universities.
ASUU’s Call for Urgent Action
ASUU has now issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government, beginning on Monday, 23rd September 2024. This comes after an earlier 21-day deadline expired without any meaningful resolution. The union has called on the Federal Government to act swiftly, warning of the consequences of further delays.
“Lecturers are hungry and angry!” Aribodor said. He urged all Nigerians to pressure the government into resolving the issues, highlighting that the year 2024 has been declared the African Union’s Year of Education, a key element in realizing the AU Agenda 2063.
ASUU also called on the governments of Anambra and Imo states to address the welfare concerns of staff at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, and Imo State University, Owerri.
The union warned that any resulting industrial action would be the responsibility of the government, should it fail to seize this final opportunity to avert a strike.
