The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria branch has staged a peaceful protest in Zaria, Kaduna State, over alleged neglect by the Federal Government. The lecturers warned that the government should be held responsible if they embark on a strike.
The lecturers accused the Federal Government of insincerity and neglect, worsening their living and working conditions.
Speaking at the protest rally organized by the union on Friday, the branch Chairman, Comrade Haruna Mohammed Jibril, outlined the union’s demands. These include renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, funding for public university revitalization, and payment of outstanding entitlements.
“The Federal Government has refused to renegotiate the ASUU/FGN 2009 agreement 15 years after it was signed,” Jibril said. He recalled that the union’s persistent calls for a review of the agreement led to the establishment of the Wale Babalakin-led Joint Renegotiation Committee in 2017. However, the process stalled for over two years due to irreconcilable differences, particularly over the re-introduction of the Education Bank and exorbitant tuition fees.
Jibril noted that despite progress in renegotiations, the government has refused to sign the draft agreement, leaving lecturers under the same salary regime since 2009. He also highlighted the poor funding of Nigerian universities, which rely on Tetfund for infrastructure and staff development rather than it being an intervention agency.
“In the aftermath of the 2022 struggle, the Federal Government claimed to have budgeted N170 billion in the 2023 budget,” Jibril said.
ASUU/ABU has urged the public to hold the Federal Government responsible if a strike occurs and called for support from parents, students, and stakeholders in their struggle for better university funding and conditions. The union also reiterated its demand for the reinstatement of governing councils whose tenures have not expired and the reconstitution of those whose tenures have lapsed.
ABU is currently grappling with severe financial challenges exacerbated by underfunding and exorbitant electricity tariffs. “These tariffs have inflated the university’s expenses to approximately N10 million per day, placing immense strain on its financial resources,” Jibril said. This financial burden recently resulted in disruptions to the university’s electricity supply and essential municipal services until immediate interventions were implemented.
The lecturers called on the Federal Government to prioritize the reduction of electricity tariffs to support education and foster sustainable development. They emphasized that prompt action on this issue is crucial for safeguarding the viability of the education sector and promoting the advancement of higher education in Nigeria.
