The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has handed the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to address lingering issues in the nation’s university system or face industrial action.
The resolution followed the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Sunday at the University of Abuja.
ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, in a statement personally signed and made available to journalists in Abuja, accused the government of abandoning public universities and reneging on past agreements.
“Accordingly, ASUU has given the Federal Government of Nigeria an ultimatum of fourteen (14) days to address these issues. If at the end of the ultimatum the Federal Government fails to act, the Union may have no option but to, first, embark on a two-week warning strike and thereafter, a total and indefinite strike,” Piwuna warned.
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, had set up a committee led by Permanent Secretary Abel Enitan to review ASUU’s proposals and explore ways of stabilising the university system. But so far, no decisions have been made public.
ASUU’s longstanding demands include renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, provision of revitalisation funds, settlement of outstanding salary arrears, and a sustainable funding framework for universities.
Leave a Reply