The National Association of Nigerian Students has urged the Federal Government to promptly engage with the Academic Staff Union of Universities in order to prevent an impending strike that could disrupt the nation’s education system.
The student body expressed concerns that any industrial action at this critical time would be detrimental to the academic calendar and the future of students across the country.
According to The PUNCH, speaking in Abuja, NANS Senate President Akinteye Babatunde emphasized the urgency of the situation following the 14-day ultimatum issued by ASUU.
Babatunde stressed the importance of immediate dialogue between both parties, noting that further strikes would be damaging. “We are asking the Federal Government to meet with ASUU and discuss with them because ASUU strike at this point in time is not advisable.”
The Academic Staff Union of Universities had earlier given the Federal Government a 14-day deadline to resolve several unresolved matters.
Among their key demands is the completion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, which is based on the recommendations of the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021.
Additionally, ASUU is seeking the release of salaries withheld during the 2022 strike, alongside unpaid wages for staff involved in sabbaticals, part-time roles, and adjunct appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
ASUU is also calling for the release of outstanding third-party deductions, such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions, and has raised concerns about the lack of funding for the revitalization of public universities.
Both revitalization funding and payment of Earned Academic Allowances have been partially included in the 2023 Federal Government budget, but the union insists on full implementation.
Other significant issues raised by ASUU include the proliferation of universities without adequate funding by both federal and state governments, the non-implementation of recommendations from visitation panels to universities, the illegal dissolution of university Governing Councils, and the demand for the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution as a replacement for the controversial IPPIS.
ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, expressed the union’s deep frustration with the government’s inaction, accusing it of employing delay tactics that have worsened the situation in public universities.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Osodeke criticized the government’s apparent lack of commitment, saying that the delay is exacerbating the crisis in the university system. He appealed to Nigerians to urge the government to take immediate action.
“In view of the foregoing, ASUU resolves to give the Nigerian Government another 14 days, in addition to the earlier 21 days, beginning from Monday, 23rd September 2024, during which all the lingering issues must have been concretely addressed to the satisfaction of the membership of the union,” the statement read.
The union also cautioned that it should not be blamed for any potential industrial disharmony that might arise from the government’s failure to act swiftly. “The union should not be held responsible for any industrial disharmony that arises from the government’s failure to seize the new opportunity offered by ASUU to nip the looming crisis in the bud,” ASUU warned.
ASUU has engaged with various stakeholders and continues to seek support from well-meaning Nigerians to pressure the government into addressing the ongoing challenges facing the nation’s universities.
With the clock ticking on ASUU’s ultimatum, the hope remains that dialogue between the union and the government will yield a timely resolution, avoiding further disruption to academic activities.
