Union Raises Alarm Over Neglect of Tertiary Institutions
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet its outstanding demands or risk a nationwide closure of public universities.
The decision followed the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Abuja on Monday.
“Critical Issues Have Been Ignored” — ASUU President
ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, faulted government’s “neglect of the nation’s universities” and failure to address the welfare of academic staff.
He said, “Despite repeated efforts by the union to draw attention through protests, the government has ignored critical issues affecting universities.”
According to him, lecturers will commence a two-week warning strike at the end of the ultimatum and could escalate to a total shutdown if nothing changes.
Key Demands on the Table
The union’s demands include:
- Renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU–FGN Agreement.
- Increased funding and revitalisation of public universities.
- An end to the alleged victimisation of ASUU members at Lagos State University (LASU), Prince Abubakar Audu University, Kogi, and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).
- Payment of outstanding salary arrears of 25–35 per cent.
- Clearance of long-delayed promotion arrears.
- Settlement of withheld third-party deductions
Call for Urgent Intervention
ASUU warned that it has exhausted other avenues of engagement and urged the Federal Government to act swiftly to avert another disruption to the academic calendar.
As of press time, the Federal Ministry of Education had yet to issue an official response to the ultimatum.