The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Federal University Gusau (FUGUS) branch, has staged a peaceful protest, urging the Federal Government to honour agreements it signed with the union since 2009.
Addressing journalist during the demonstration held within the university premises, the ASUU Chairman, FUGUS branch, Dr. Abdulrahman Adamu, said the protest was in line with a nationwide action by ASUU chapters across the country.
Dr. Adamu explained that the protest was aimed at drawing the attention of the Federal Government to fulfil promises on a wide range of demands, including improved welfare for lecturers, better funding for universities, and payment of outstanding salaries among others.
“We have been engaging the Federal Government since 2009 through various agreements and memoranda of understanding. Unfortunately, government has developed the habit of setting up one committee after another without implementing the recommendations.
Dr Abdulrahman Adamu alleged that, Nigerian academics remain among the least paid in Africa, and many are leaving the country for better opportunities abroad.
He further lamented that, lecturers were still being owed over three months’ salaries since the 2020 strike, while issues of promotion arrears, earned academic allowances, and other commitments remain unresolved.
According to him, Nigerian universities are largely surviving on interventions from TETFUND, which itself was established through ASUU’s struggle.
Dr. Abdulrahman Adamu added that the union is not interested in strike action but warned that failure of government to act responsibly may leave the union with no alternative.
“This protest is a warning signal. We are scheduled to meet with government representatives on the 28th of this month. If nothing serious comes out of the meeting, ASUU will determine the next line of action,” he said.
The ASUU chairman, however, assured that the protest would not disrupt academic or non-academic activities in the university.
Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Gusau, Professor Mu’azu Abubakar, called on the Federal Government to meet its obligations to the academic community in order to avert industrial crises in the education sector.
COV/AMINU DALHATU.
