The Federal Ministry of Education has initiated efforts to prevent another potential strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), following the union’s 14-day ultimatum issued last week. The ministry’s Director of Press, Folasade Biriowo, confirmed on Sunday that teams have been formed and are actively working to address ASUU’s grievances.
“I can assure you that everything is being done to prevent the strike from happening. The minister has teams working already, so I can give you that assurance,” Biriowo stated in an interview in Abuja.
ASUU has raised several unresolved issues with the government, including the conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021. The union also demands the release of withheld salaries from the 2022 strike and the payment of unpaid wages for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
Other key demands include the release of third-party deductions such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions, adequate funding for public universities as captured in the 2023 budget, and the payment of Earned Academic Allowances.
ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, expressed disappointment over what he described as the government’s lack of commitment and delay tactics, which he said are deepening the crisis in the public university system. ASUU also called for the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as a replacement for IPPIS and raised concerns about the proliferation of universities by both federal and state governments.
The government’s response teams are now working to address these demands and avoid further disruption to Nigeria’s public university system.
