ASUU ultimatum to Federal Government warns of an indefinite strike if long-standing demands remain unresolved within one month
ASUU ultimatum to Federal Government opened the renewed conversation on Thursday as the Academic Staff Union of Universities warned that Nigeria could slide into another indefinite shutdown of public universities if outstanding issues are not resolved within one month.
Also read: ASUU strike ultimatum backed by NLC in bold joint move
Prof Adeola Egbedokun, who coordinates the Akure Zone, spoke at the ASUU Secretariat of Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile Ife.
He said the two-week warning strike had been suspended out of goodwill after appeals from students, parents, labour unions and civil society organisations.
He noted that critical matters remain unresolved. These include completing the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU FGN Agreement, settling outstanding salary arrears, addressing promotion arrears and releasing unremitted third-party deductions.
Egbedokun stressed that the union is also insisting on an end to what it describes as the victimisation of its members at Lagos State University, Kogi State University and the Federal University of Technology Owerri.
He added that the sector urgently requires sustainable funding and revitalisation to halt its steady decline.
He urged traditional rulers, community figures, student groups, the Nigeria Labour Congress and civil society bodies to continue supporting what he called ASUU’s essential struggle for a stronger education system.
Egbedokun expressed deep worry over what he termed the Federal Government’s inconsistent approach to establishing new universities.
He recalled that despite a seven year moratorium on fresh licences, more institutions continue to be approved without proper facilities or staffing.
He said ASUU has repeatedly opposed this proliferation because most of the new universities do not have the equipment, personnel or infrastructure needed to provide quality learning.
He argued that the government should instead invest in existing institutions to prevent further stress on the system.
Egbedokun described some of the new schools as mushroom universities admitting thousands of students into limited classroom spaces with no offices for lecturers.
He insisted that only the first generation universities currently have the academic staff strength, laboratories and lecture rooms that meet acceptable standards.
He added that if more resources are channelled into strengthening the older universities, the system would experience fewer crises and the complaints that dominate public discourse would drastically reduce.
Also read: Tinubu directs Education Minister to end ASUU dispute
ASUU chairmen present at the briefing included Prof Anthony Odiwe of OAU, Prof Bamidele Mogaji of FUTA, Prof Sola Afolayan of EKSU, Prof Babatope Ogundare of BOUESTI, Dr Abayomi Fagbuagun of UNIMED, Dr Abraham Oladebeye of FUOYE and Dr Bosun Ajisafe of AFUED.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
