The Academics Staff Union of Universities ,ASUU, is currently meeting accros Nigerian universities to vote on the next lines of action following the expiration of the ultimatium issues to the federal government.
Daily Intel recalls that the union had last month issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Nigerian government beginning on 23 September. This ultimatum followed a previous 21-day ultimatum issued in August.
After the first ultimatum lapsed, the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, met with the union twice on 28 August and 6 September, in an attempt to forestall any possible strike action. The minister also set up a subcommittee to investigate the union’s demands.
However, after reviewing the government’s position at its National Executive Council meeting on 19 September, ASUU expressed dissatisfaction prompting the latest ultimatum that expired on 6 October.
ASUU President, professor Emmanuel Osodeke in a statement accused the government of lacking the required commitment to avert the strike action.
Sources said today’s meeting accros ASUU’s chapters would deliberate with a view of taking position following the expiration of its ultimatum.
The union is at loggerheads with the Nigerian government over the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement. The agreement contains the conditions of services, wages and allowances of Nigerian academics. The agreement is meant to be updated periodically but negotiations have stalled for close to a decade.
ASUU wants the government to conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2022.
The union also wants the government to put an end to the use of a centralised payment platform, the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) for payments of university workers’ salaries. It said the platform is fraudulent and is shortchanging its members of their entitlements.
