The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Federal Government to meet with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) regarding the recent strike threat.
NANS stated that a strike by the union was not advisable at this time.
NANS Senate President Akinteye Babatunde made this known in a conversation with our correspondent in Abuja, following ASUU’s new 14-day ultimatum issued on Wednesday over failing discussions with the Federal Government.
“We are asking the Federal Government to meet with ASUU and discuss with them because an ASUU strike at this point in time is not advisable,” NANS president stated.
ASUU issued the Federal Government a 14-day deadline to resolve various outstanding concerns. ASUU wants to renegotiate the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s 2021 Draft Agreement, as well as the release of withheld salary from the 2022 strike action.
ASUU is also requesting the release of unpaid salary for workers on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, as well as the payment of outstanding third-party deductions such as check-off fees and cooperative payments.
The union is also requesting funds for the revitalisation of public universities, which is partially included in the Federal Government Budget for 2023, as well as the payment of earned academic allowances.
Other issues include the expansion of universities by federal and state governments, the implementation of visitation panel reports on universities, the reversal of the illegal dissolution of governing councils, and the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution as a replacement for IPPIS.
In a statement released on Wednesday, ASUU President Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke voiced anger with the government’s lack of commitment and delay tactics, claiming that these measures were fostering a crisis in the public university system.
The union stated that it had met with many stakeholders and was appealing to well-meaning Nigerians to urge the government to address these issues.
“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,” ASUU said.
