By Charles Maduka
The Academic Staff Union of Universities has given the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to address lingering issues affecting Nigeria’s university system.
The decision followed a National Executive Council meeting held on Sunday at the University of Abuja. ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, announced the ultimatum in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja.
He said the union had decried the government’s consistent neglect of the university system and failure to meet its demands. According to him, if the issues remain unresolved after 14 days, ASUU may embark on a two-week warning strike and subsequently a total and indefinite strike.
The union’s core demands include renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, adequate revitalisation funding for universities, payment of outstanding salary arrears, and sustainable funding mechanisms.
The Federal Government had earlier set up a committee led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Abel Enitan, to review ASUU’s proposals, but no decision has yet been made public.
ASUU warned that unless urgent steps are taken to address these concerns, industrial peace in the nation’s universities cannot be guaranteed.
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