The Academic Staff Union of Universities has provided the government with a list of actions it must take in order to put an end to the six-month academic strike.
The president of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, stated that the government must be transparent while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
“Government should tell us and Nigerians – the money that has been alleged to have been approved for revitalisation – how much is it and where is it lodged? When will it be released?” Prof Osodeke said.
The university don continued by saying that the government must make it clear where it stands on the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), a payroll programme that ASUU wants to replace the Integrated Payroll and Personnel information system (IPPIS).
“Three, have they accepted the agreement we reached with their panel? They should come and tell us this, and not go to the press,” Prof. Osodeke said.
The ASUU President charged that the federal government played to sentiments rather than addressing the problems brought up by the union.
“Strike is a symptom of a problem,” Prof Osodeke said. “Any day you sort out that problem, you will not have strike.”
ASUU has been on strike since February 14.
Due to the government’s failure to satisfactorily address its demands, the union extended its industrial action “totally and indefinitely” on Monday.
Among other requests, the academics want better welfare, the revitalisation of public universities, and academic autonomy.
The non-payment of university revitalisation funds, which total roughly N1.1 trillion, is one point of discontent among academics.
However, the Federal Government has asserted that it lacks the resources to make such a payment, citing the low oil prices experienced during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
