The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has threatened to resume industrial action unless Federal Government honours the agreements entered with the union as contained in the Memorandum of Action signed by both parties in December 2020.
ASUU Coordinator, Sokoto zone, Comrade Jamilu Shehu made the union’s position known at a press conference held at Umaru Musa Yaradua University, Katsina.
The Sokoto zone of ASUU comprises Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, Umaru Musa Yaradua University Katsina, Federal University, Dutsinma, Kebbi state university of Science and Technology Aliero, and Sokoto State University.
Comrade Shehu explained that the position expressed by the Sokoto zone was a decision adopted by all chapters of the union nationwide.
He said the Memorandum of Action was a working document that was signed in December last year as part of conditions to call off the strike embarked upon by ASUU in March 2020.
Shehu whose address was presented by the ASUU chairman, Umaru Musa Yaradua University Katsina chapter, Dr. Murtala Abdullahi-Kwara, noted that the MoA contained some issues which if addressed would enhance teaching and learning in public universities across the country.
“We also regard as unacceptable the non-payment of earned academic allowances of staff of public universities and its non-inclusion in the national budget from 2018 as previously agreed during our negotiations with the federal government.
“The federal government had also agreed to release all arrears of earned academic allowances to ASUU members by May 2021 but has failed to honour the pledge.
“Also in contention is the proliferation of state-owned universities which are grossly underfunded and therefore operate below the minimum academic standards.
“These institutions are characterized by non-payment and underpayment of staff salaries and pensions, non-implementation of earned academic allowances and shabby classroom and laboratory infrastructure.
“Contrary to an earlier agreement, the National Assembly is yet to pass the bill that seeks to empower the National Universities Commission, NUC, to effectively regulate state-owned universities.”
The ASUU zonal coordinator also expressed the union’s dismay over withheld salaries of members that did not register with the Integrated Personnel Payrol Integrated Systems, IPPIS, for months, which the federal government pledged to release but has failed to do so.
Other issues in contention include lack of adequate funding for the revitalization of federal universities, non implementation of the Universities Transparency and Accountability Systems, UTAS, and the failure to honour the FG/ASUU agreement of 2009.
The union urged stakeholders in the education sector to prevail on federal government to implement these and other measures that would make tertiary education in the country meet global standards.
Meanwhile the union says once these pledges are not fulfilled, it will resume the strike which it suspended in December last year.
Isma’il Adamu