ABUJA, Nigeria – The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) don issue strong warning to Federal Government say make dem honour di 2009 FG/ASUU agreement, or else dem go face nationwide strike action. ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, tok dis for news conference wey happen for Abuja on Friday.
Piwuna highlight say nine important issues see dey unresolved, including di stalled renegotiation wey don dey since 2017. Him also mention say salaries wey dem withhold during di 2022 strike and unpaid entitlements wey relate to di Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) dey linger without resolution.
Di ASUU president criticise di delay in releasing revitalisation funds and di unpaid earned academic allowances. Despite di promise to inject ₦150 billion into di universities and address irregular allowances by 2026, Piwuna say dis commitments remain unfulfilled.
“We dey face victimization for state universities like Kogi State University and Lagos State University, with salary denial and job insecurity wey dey affect morale of di staff,” Piwuna explain.
On di matter of university autonomy, Piwuna raise alarm say political interference don compromise di selection process for leaders. Him cite Nnamdi Azikiwe and Abuja universities as examples wey dem don turn battlegrounds for political and economic interests, which dey unacceptable.
Piwuna call on all Nigerians for a national rebirth through education, saying education na key for Nigeria development and prosperity. He propose say dem go need national education summit wey go focus on funding, autonomy, and academic welfare.
“Education dey empower citizens, drive innovation, and instil values. Without am, development no fit happen,” him add.
He confirm ASUU don ready to reform di education system for Nigerian universities and urge both patriotic Nigerians and global allies to support di struggle. “Our universities suppose be centres for solutions to national challenges,” Piwuna affirm. “We dey open for dialogue but we go no tolerate further erosion of our rights,” him conclude.
In 2009, ASUU and di Nigerian government reach agreement wey suppose solve plenty critical issues for public universities, including better funding and working conditions for lecturers. Since then, several strikes don happen, with di last major strike starting for February 2022 and lasting over five months.
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