The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is gearing up for crucial discussions in its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting this February 2024 amidst a stalemate with the government. Expressing deep disappointment, ASUU officials lamented the lack of progress on key issues that have been persistently ignored by the Federal Government (FG).
In a communiqué addressed to all Zonal Coordinators and Chairpersons, ASUU highlighted the government’s apparent disregard for their concerns. Despite numerous engagements, no concrete steps have been taken by the FG to address ASUU’s grievances. Notably, there has been a glaring absence of official communication regarding crucial matters such as the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), withheld salaries, wage awards, and promised salary increments.
“We want to explore every option,” stated ASUU representatives, emphasizing their determination to pursue all available avenues to resolve the impasse. However, frustration mounts as the government continues to engage in what ASUU perceives as media propaganda rather than genuine dialogue.
While acknowledging the removal of ASUU from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), ASUU officials underscored the FG’s failure to fulfill its commitments, including the promised salary increments ranging from 25% to 35%, retroactive to January 2023. Furthermore, ASUU criticized the government’s incomplete disbursement of palliatives and highlighted unmet demands such as the Earned Academic Allowance.
The failure of the Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles, to secure the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, though a disappointment, was described by ASUU as a secondary concern compared to the pressing issues facing the education sector.
With patience wearing thin, ASUU warned of the possibility of resorting to strike action during their upcoming NEC meeting. The union remains resolute in its pursuit of fair treatment and adequate support for university staff, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding the interests of its members and the broader academic community.
