The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nsukka Zone, has expressed dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s administration as it approaches its one-year mark, citing unfulfilled promises and unmet expectations.
The Zonal Coordinator, Raphael Amokaha, addressed journalists on Friday at Benue State University, Makurdi, highlighting the government’s insensitivity towards the renegotiation of the 2009 Federal Government/ASUU agreement.
Amokaha criticized the administration for failing to address several key issues, including poor funding of universities, breaches of university autonomy, particularly regarding the Integrated Personnel Payment Information System (IPPIS), nonpayment of earned academic allowances, and the withholding of four months’ salaries.
“Unfortunately, we are on the verge of a strike,” Amokaha stated, referencing President Tinubu’s earlier promise that the era of strikes in Nigerian universities was over.
He emphasized that the union’s expectations were much higher than the current situation.
The ASUU zonal coordinator further urged the government to honor the draft renegotiated 2009 agreement, considering the impact of hyperinflation on the economy.
“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,” Amokaha said.
He also demanded the immediate payment of the balance of the eight months’ withheld salaries, stressing that the value of these salaries has significantly decreased due to inflation.
“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,” he noted.
While acknowledging President Tinubu’s directive to review the appointment of university governing councils, Amokaha cautioned against using these appointments as political rewards.
“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 be tossed about in the name of dissolution or reconstitution of councils without recourse to propriety,” he remarked.
The union also advised that appointments to university governing councils should not be viewed as patronage for political loyalty.
“Appointments to university governing councils must not be viewed as patronage for political loyalty,” Amokaha added.
