Chinedum Elekwachi
The Academic Staff Union of Nigeria Universities (ASUU) says a nationwide strike action is inevitable unless Federal Government addresses outstanding issues affecting public universities across the country.
The Coordinator, ASUU Owerri Zone, Prof Dennis Aribodor, said this while addressing journalists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
He appealed to well-meaning stakeholders to assist in urging the government to do the needful.
“We wish to inform the public of an imminent industrial crisis in the public universities across the country.
“This is due to insincerity of government both federal and state in addressing the lingering issues in the Nigeria University System,” he stated.
According to Aribodor, the body resolved to consider industrial action as a last resort to demand compliance to agreements reached with the federal government on funding the education sector.
” We thereby invite the general public to note that ASUU has patiently tried in several ways to get government to resolve the issues in contention.
Patience exhausted
Aribodor said, “Regrettably, government has not done the needful in addressing the issues and our patience is exhausted”
He, however, quickly pointed out that they were waiting for the National Body of the Union to announce a definite date for commencement of the industrial action.
Aribodor, listed some of their demands to include, conclusion of the re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, payment of withheld three and half months salary arrears, and payment of over four years promotion arrears.
“Others were payment of third-party deductions, release of revitalization fund for universities, sustainable funding of public universities and exit of Imo State University from Treasury Single Account among others,” he added.
He noted that they had given the federal government the benefit of doubt and engaged every alternative measure to forestall the looming industrial action.
“ASUU usually does everything within her powers to avert a strike action.
“But when it becomes inevitable, we have no option and should not be held responsible.
“We plead with all well-meaning stakeholders to assist in urging the government to do the needful”
He also highlighted that they took into cognizance the worsening living and working conditions of university teachers in the nation.
The union leader noted that they were often frustrated by repeated breaches of agreements with the federal government.
