*Gives FG 14 Days Ultimatum
By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
Normal academic activities in public universities in the country will be grounded following plans by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to embark on indefinite strike effective this October 7 over alleged insensitivity by federal government to their aged-long plights.
Addressing a press conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Monday, the Chairperson of Calabar Zone of ASUU, Comrade Happiness Uduk said members will from the date, withdraw services and shall not be held responsible for breakdown in industrial harmony.
Comrade Uduk, who expressed dissatisfaction at the attitudes of the federal government to address the lingering issues of staff welfare and entitlements despite several known efforts, described the actions as insensitivity, insincerity, indifference and time-buying tactics.
“With a feeling of indignation, we regret to bore you with the cry of anger, frustration and unfulfilled promises that have tirelessly bedeviled our struggle and have been front-burnt for several years. The Calabar Zone of ASUU has called this Press Conference because of development or the lack of it as regards our engagements with Federal Government of Nigeria” Comrade Uduk said.
According to Comrade Uduk, ASUU had on August 20, 2024, gave government a 21-day ultimatum for the resolution of all the issues in contention since 2009 but regretted that nothing tangible has changed safe for meetings and more meetings which she alleged government agents were feeding fat by receiving allowances for convening such meetings.
However, to avert the strike, Comrade Uduk said ASUU has given the federal government a period of 14 days beginning from September 23, 2024 in addition to earlier 21 days ultimatum within which to address all pending issues bothering on the welfare of members.
“In view of current realities in the dysfunctional relationship between Federal Government and ASUU, the Union resolved to give government 14 more days ultimatum to the earlier 21 days beginning from Monday, 23rd September, 2024 within which all issues must have been totally addressed to the satisfaction of our poorly-treated members. Our Union will withdraw services, and should not be held responsible for breakdown in industrial harmony which will arise as a result of government’s insensitivity, insincerity, indifference and time-buying tactics.” Comrade Uduk positioned.
The Calabar Zonal Chairperson of the Union listed 10 points agitation by ASUU to include, “the conclusion of the re-negotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Draft Agreement by the Nimi Briggs Committee in 2021, which is already out of date given the reality of the current Dollar/Naira ratio.
“The release of withheld three and a half months’ salaries as a result of the 2022 industrial action, the release of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time and adjunct which were affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System otherwise called the IPPIS.
“The release of outstanding third-party deductions such as check-off dues and Co-operative contributions by members, which were captured in the 2023 Federal budget; funding for the revitalization of public universities partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government budget and Payment of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) also partly captured in the 2023 Federal budget.
“Proliferation of Universities by both Federal and State governments when those already established are not properly funded; implementation of the Report of Visitation Panels to universities; illegal dissolution of Governing Councils; and
Adopting UTAS, that is, University Transparency and Accountability Solution as replacement for the obnoxious IPPIS that even failed integrity test by NITDA.
“The failure of governments to implement contents of several Memoranda of Understanding and Action between 2013 and 2022, which ASUU noted, have hampered access to wholesome industrial harmony in public Universities especially as renegotiation has lingered for over seven years spanning the Babalakin-led team through Jubrin Munzali’s team and Emeritus Prof. Nimi Briggs’ Committee.”
ASUU blamed President Ahmad Tinubu administration for not adopting and implementing of these agreements inspite of all efforts to get it done, just as its refusal to address issues that are non-monetary; the most visible being the exit of Universities from the obnoxious IPPIS in spite of a Presidential Directive and a Court order since Dec. 2023.
Our Correspondent observed that, the Calabar Zonal Chairperson of ASUU, Comrade Happiness Uduk was flanked by Comrade Slessor Mbah – Chairperson, ASUU ABSU; Comrade Ikechuku Igwenyi – Chairperson, ASUU EBSU; Comrade Frank Namso Obot -Chairperson, ASUU AKSU; Comrade Patrick Ushie -Chairperson, ASUU UNICROSS; Comrade Peter Ubi -Chairperson, ASUU UNICAL and Comrade Opeyemi Olajide Chairperson, ASUU UNIUYO who also signed the text of the press conference.
