Browsing: ASUU

As the university system continues to deteriorate, ASUU, the nation’s conscience, the primary stakeholders’ union is struggling to reverse the trend that has led to persistent industrial action in the last decade. The union has consistently pushed for implementing the United Nations Fund of Population Activities (UNFPA), which specifies a 15% to 20% annual education budget for underdeveloped countries like Nigeria. However, the national budgetary spending on education has remained below 10%. It is imperative that the nation wakes up and addresses the issues raised by ASUU for a promising, glorious future.   

“The Tinubu administration announced the exit of tertiary institutions from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) since December 2023, but to our chagrin, universities are still being paid through the IPPIS platform.

The collaboration between activist groups and the Federal Government to undermine unions like the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is not just alarming, it’s downright shameful. How can those who claim to advocate for the marginalized turn a blind eye to the suppression of workers and academics? It’s a betrayal of the very principles they claim to uphold.

As time ticks, our university system’s perilous situation is deepening, creating an unpleasant scenario. The current administration seems irresponsive to the happenings on our university campuses. Apart from the sweet-coated but unfulfilling statements, award of 25/35% salary increase, presidential amnesty to release four months withheld salaries of the striking workers, approval to remove payment of university workers from IPPIS, etc, the hopes of the university workers for a brighter tomorrow are dashed. The students are oblivious to the flight of their teachers; they are only interested in graduating even if they will be “half-baked” and join the labour market. Why is society unconcerned about the deteriorating quality of Nigerian university graduates? The academics are under exacerbating economic pain, and their Union, ASUU, cowed by the past administration through a judicial technicality, is confused about deciding on the following line of action. ASUU’s rhetoric is in limbo. Is there an alternative to industrial action – strike? Can the university workers embark on another strike with the entrenched government policy of “no work, no pay”? Should they continue to teach their students under unbearable conditions with a peanut as a monthly pay?