Nigerian university lecturers, under the umbrella of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), have given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum, warning of a potential nationwide strike.
During a press briefing in July at Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, the Chairman of ASUU’s Gashua branch, Melemi Abatcha, highlighted key issues affecting the educational sector, including the need for funding to revitalize Nigerian public universities and the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement.
Here are five reasons the union is threatening to initiate another nationwide strike.
Lack of funding for university revitalization
ASUU is concerned about the inadequate funding for the revitalization of Nigerian public universities, including poor infrastructure, inadequate staff and student accommodation, and insufficiently equipped laboratories and libraries.
Renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement
The union has expressed frustration over the government’s delay in renegotiating the 2009 agreement, which has left academic staff on the same salary structure for over a decade.
Issues with IPPIS
Despite the Federal Executive Council’s directive to remove ASUU from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) since December 2023, ASUU members are still being paid through this platform, which the union finds unacceptable.
University autonomy and proliferation
ASUU is concerned about the erosion of university autonomy and the unchecked proliferation of public universities, which they believe is detrimental to the quality of education.
Unpaid allowances and withheld salaries
The backlog of earned academic allowances amounting to N50 billion and the withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries of ASUU members across the country are also significant issues fueling the threat of another strike.