The Ibadan Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Friday expressed disappointment over the Federal Government’s handling of the ongoing industrial dispute, warning that a full-scale strike may be imminent.
ASUU Ibadan Zone covers University of Ibadan, University of Ilorin, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Osun State University, Kwara State University, and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education.
Addressing journalists at LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, the Zone Coordinator, Professor Biodun Olaniran, accused government officials of spreading misinformation while delaying the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement.
“The real demand of our Union is the re-negotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, currently under review by the Alhaji Yayale Ahmed-led Committee, to establish a new salary structure replacing the outdated Consolidated University Salary Scale (CONUASS) amid rampant inflation,” ASUU said.
The union recalled that it had declared a two-week warning strike on October 13, which was suspended early due to interventions from students, parents, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the media, and other stakeholders. The union had given a one-month window for the government to conclude renegotiations and resolve outstanding issues.
Professor Olaniran lamented that, despite expectations for the government to prioritise education, innovation, and national development, “just eight days before the expiration of the one-month window, nothing substantial has been done other than the usual misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda.”
While acknowledging the partial release of four-year promotion arrears and some deductions, ASUU clarified that these actions do not address the union’s core demands.
He revealed that during the recent National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Taraba State University, the union assessed the state of negotiations, noting that insecurity and economic hardship continue to negatively affect members’ welfare. “Unless the Federal Government offers a competitive salary structure promptly, academic calendars in public universities may be disrupted again,” he warned.
Professor Olaniran also condemned the counteroffers by the Yayale Ahmed-led Committee, calling them “inappropriate and unacceptable for academics who have received stagnant salaries for 16 years.” He added that salaries in Nigerian universities remain far below those in other West African countries, even as politicians continue to receive the highest pay in Africa.
The union further disclosed that three-and-a-half months’ salaries of federal university staff, which triggered the 2022 strike, are still withheld, with many state universities also failing to pay owed salaries, promotion arrears, and Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).
“ASUU, therefore, demands the unconditional payment of all withheld salaries, promotion arrears, and outstanding EAAs to academic staff across federal and state universities to avert a looming crisis,” the union concluded.
