Nsukka ASUU to Tinubu: Fulfil your promise to avert strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Nsukka Zone on Friday berated President Bola Tinubu for not fulfilling its promises to avert further strikes in Nigerian Universities.

As such, the union said it’s not sharing in the joy of one year in office of the present administration.

Addressing newsmen at the Benue State University, Makurdi, the Zonal Coordinator, Raphael Amokaha lamented that successive administrations have failed in meeting the renegotiation of the 2009 Federal Government/ASUU agreement and added that the present administration has not shown serious commitment to the agreement.

Amokaha listed the agreement to include; poor funding of the nation universities, breach of university autonomy, particularly in the Integrated Personnel Payment Information System, non-payment of earned academic allowances and the four months salaries withheld.

ASUU which recognized the appointment of university governing councils, was recently released by the federal government however demanded the reinstatement of university governing councils that have a subsisting tenure.

It also advised the president not to see the appointment of governing councils as patronage for political loyalty.

Amokaha noted that contrary to the promise of President Tinubu that the era of strikes in Nigerian universities was over, the ASUU zonal boss said, ‘Unfortunately, we are on the verge of a strike.’

He added, “The government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is about to celebrate one year in office. Unfortunately, our union members do not share in the elation of the one-year celebration.

“Our expectations were much higher than the present reality. Again, we cry out to the President, let the lecturers breathe! Do not suffocate us!!

“The draft renegotiated 2009 agreement must be signed immediately and implemented even though it may need to be looked at before signing now so that what will be agreed upon now will be commensurate to the hyperinflation ravaging our country.

“The balance of the eight months withheld salaries owed our colleagues should be paid immediately. They have now done the work in full and to make it worse, the value of the eight months’ salary is now barely up to the value of two months’ salary at that time.

Speaking further, Amokaha said, “Membership of governing councils requires notable and upright personalities with experience in University administration.

“It’s therefore not proper that personalities like Professors Attahiru Jega, Olu Obafemi and Munzali Jibril are tossed about in the name of dissolution or reconstitution of councils without recourse to propriety.

“Appointments to university governing councils must not be viewed as patronage for political loyalty.

The union advised the president to keep his promise by directing the immediate signing of the draft agreement and implementation of the contents therein to avert the impending strike.

 

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