In a press conference held on Monday, 26th of February, 2024 at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) expressed deep concern over the "appalling and intolerable" neglect of public universities by the Federal Government. Dr Adeola Egbedokun, the Zonal Coordinator of the Akure zone, criticized the government's insensitivity and lack of responsiveness since ASUU suspended its last strike on October 14, 2022.
Despite initial optimism at the onset of the Bola Tinubu administration, ASUU Akure zone highlighted various grievances that the government has failed to address. These include the renegotiation of the FGN/ASUU 2009 agreements, withheld salaries of academic staff, unpaid arrears of promotion, illegal deduction by governing councils, underfunding of universities, and arrears of Earned Academic Allowances.
Egbedokun emphasized the urgent need for the government to find a lasting solution to the worsening socioeconomic crisis in the country. Particularly, the union accused the Federal Government of refusing to sign the draft renegotiated agreement produced by Prof Nimi Briggs, asserting that the agreement now requires renegotiation.
The union called on President Bola Tinubu to review and sign the draft agreement for immediate implementation. While acknowledging the partial payment of withheld salaries, Egbedokun stressed the need for the government to expedite the payment of the outstanding balance.
ASUU expressed discontent with the government's use of the IPPIS platform for salary payments, considering it inconsistent with the Universities Miscellaneous Provisions Act of 1993. The union called for the removal of universities from IPPIS.
ASUU Akure zone also decried the illegal dissolution of universities' governing councils, accusing the vice chancellors and relevant ministries of taking over council functions. The union demanded the reversal of these dissolutions and the reconstitution of expired councils.
On unpaid arrears, Egbedokun highlighted that promotion arrears had not been paid since the introduction of IPPIS. Members are owed several months of promotion arrears, ranging from six to 36 months, leading to a call for their immediate release.
The union condemned the underfunding of the university system, pointing out the meager budgetary allocation to education over the years. ASUU demanded the release of the revitalization fund and an upward review of budgetary allocations to education.
ASUU concluded the conference with a warning, stating that if the government's insensitive stance persists, and members are pushed to the wall, Nigerians should not blame the union for a potential industrial unrest. Representatives from various ASUU chapters, including OAU, FUTA, EKSU, FUOYE, and UNIMEDO, were present at the event.
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