The meeting between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been postponed to August 28, after being initially scheduled for Monday. This rescheduling is raising concerns among university lecturers, who have warned of a nationwide strike if their demands continue to be ignored.
A source from ASUU’s National Executive Council confirmed the shift in the meeting date, stating, “Our meeting with the Federal Government will now hold on August 28.”
The union’s frustrations stem from a lack of progress on the 2009 renegotiated agreement between ASUU and the Federal Government. Key demands include better working conditions for university staff, increased funding for public universities, and a halt to the rapid establishment of new universities without proper resources.
These issues were highlighted during ASUU’s National Executive Council meeting held at the University of Ibadan on August 19, 2024. During that meeting, the union issued an ultimatum to the government, threatening to launch a nationwide strike if their concerns were not addressed.
Education Minister Tahir Mamman acknowledged that many of ASUU’s concerns date back decades, some as far back as 1981. He added that efforts were underway to resolve some of these long-standing issues, including a key demand involving the exit from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.
“Most of the issues raised by ASUU are being attended to. For instance, the issue of exit from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System has since been resolved by the President. Bureaucracy is the reason for the delay in the implementation of that directive. But by the time we meet on Monday, some of these issues will be discussed and resolved.
“Most of the demands of ASUU started in 1981. But the President made a commitment during the campaign that permanent solution would be provided this time, and he has shown that in his steps and actions,” he said.
