Nigeria – ASUU Threatens Indefinite Strike Over 2009 Agreement, Gives Ultimatum

By Utebor Paul

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a fresh warning of an indefinite strike, citing the Federal Government’s failure to honor the 2009 agreement reached with the union.

The warning was disclosed by Prof. Timothy Namo, the Bauchi Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, during a press conference held on Friday in Jos.

According to Namo, the union, after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held between August 17 and 18, gave the government a 21-day ultimatum to address their demands.

However, with no positive response, ASUU extended the ultimatum by another 14 days, which commenced on September 23.

“As we speak, the government has not honoured any of the agreements or addressed our concerns. At the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum, we issued another 14-day ultimatum. So, we want Nigerians to blame the federal government if ASUU decides to down tools and shut down public universities,” Namo said.

He highlighted some of the unresolved issues, including the non-conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, non-release of three-and-half-month salaries for academic staff, unpaid salaries for adjunct lecturers, and outstanding third-party deductions.

Namo also pointed out poor funding for the revitalisation of public universities, non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) as captured in the 2023 budget, the proliferation of universities, and the non-implementation of visitation panel reports to universities, among others.

ASUU has urged the federal government to meet its demands to avert another strike that could lead to the closure of public universities nationwide.