The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a fresh 14-day ultimatum, asking the federal government to resolve lingering issues affecting university lecturers.
The fresh ultimatum is coming after the expiration of a 21-day notice earlier issued by the union.
The government and the university lecturers agreed to set up a committee to look at the demands of the union in their last meeting.
However, in a statement , Wednesday, ASUU President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke expressed frustration with the government’s lack of commitment and delay tactics, noting that the actions were fueling a crisis in the public university system.
The statement read: “In view of the foregoing, ASUU resolves to give the Nigerian Government another 14 days, in addition to the earlier 21 days, beginning from Monday, September 23, 2024, during which all the lingering issues must have been concretely addressed to the satisfaction of the membership of the union.
“The union should not be held responsible for any industrial disharmony that arises from the government’s failure to seize the new opportunity offered by ASUU to nip the looming crisis in the bud.”
The union is demanding the conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021 and the payment of salaries withheld due to the union’s eight-month industrial action in 2022.
ASUU is also demanding the release of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, and the payment of outstanding third-party deductions such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions.
