Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Ibrahim Ramalan
Published on 2024-02-22 13:26:28
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has made a plea to the Federal Government to uphold and execute the agreement that was made with the union to prevent any form of industrial action. The appeal was made by the ASUU Coordinator in charge of Kano Zone, Abdulqadir Muhammad, during a news conference following a zonal meeting in Kano.
One of the key issues highlighted by ASUU is the need for the renegotiation of the Federal Government – ASUU 2009 agreement. This agreement was initially reached when the exchange rate to the U.S. dollar was N146, whereas the current exchange rate stands at N1,900. The significant increase in the exchange rate has eroded the salaries of ASUU members by 90%, causing widespread concern within the union.
Furthermore, Mr. Muhammad expressed disappointment in the federal government’s reluctance to sign the draft agreement that was reached with the union, particularly after the appointment of the new leadership of the negotiation committee. He urged President Bola Tinubu to initiate the process of reviewing and signing the renegotiated draft agreement, emphasizing that this action would serve as a gesture of goodwill and prevent any potential industrial crisis while restoring hope for Nigeria’s public universities.
In addition to the plea for the implementation of the agreement, the union also addressed the issue of withheld salaries. Members of the union had received partial payment of their seven months’ salaries that were withheld. ASUU emphasized the importance of ensuring the full payment of the remaining balance in the interest of its members.
The union also made a specific appeal to the Kaduna government to release the five months’ withheld salaries of Kaduna State University employees. They also called for the payment of Earned Academic Allowances and promotion arrears that were neglected after the agreement. Mr. Muhammad condemned the dissolution of the Governing Councils of public universities, stating that this action was in violation of the Universities Miscellaneous Acts and respective university laws.
ASUU further advocated for a review of the Nigeria University Commission, NUC, Act, in order to address the issue of the proliferation of universities in the country without adequate provision for funding. The union also expressed concern about the state of the nation, highlighting issues such as insecurity, poverty, unemployment, rising cost of living, displacement, and destitution in the country.
The union called upon the media, civil society, labor movement, and student groups to support its efforts to reform Nigerian public universities. Finally, the zone urged President Bola Tinubu to faithfully implement the contents of the agreement that was mutually signed with the unions through collective bargaining.
In conclusion, ASUU’s plea to the Federal Government holds significant implications for the future of Nigeria’s public universities. The union’s efforts to address issues such as salary erosion, withheld payments, and the overall state of public higher education in Nigeria need to be considered and acted upon for the betterment of the education sector in the country.
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