Tinubu paying lip service to our demands –ASUU alleges, threatens strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has accused President Bola Tinubu of not paying proper attention to issues concerning Nigeria’s university lecturers.

The Chairman of the Obafemi Awolowo University branch of the union, Professor Anthony Odiwe, stated this during a peaceful protest on Tuesday.

He stressed that unless urgent attention is given to the draft agreement between ASUU and the Federal Government in 2021, the union would call for a fresh industrial action across campuses in the country.

Odiwe said that the Federal Government is yet to address many of the issues that usually force ASUU to embark on strike, saying the union was surprised with the attitude of the present administration on the issues.

“It is extremely important to state that all the issues that had always forced our members to embark on strike are still unattended up till now.

“Please permit me to mention those issues- Release of the unpaid salaries of staff on sabbatical, adjunct, etc. due to IPPIS, payment of promotion arrears, payment of EAA, proliferation of public universities, implementation of the Reports of the Visitation Panels, illegal dissolution of Governing Councils of Federal and State Universities, implementation of University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) in place of IPPIS and release of third-party deductions,” he stated.

According to him, the union had not officially met with Tinubu since he became President.

“The union was very open and hopeful at the beginning that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that would be favourably disposed in addressing the issues, especially with the posture and utterances of Mr President, that strike will be a thing of the past in our system.

“Unfortunately, the same government has refused to relate with us officially in the last one year in power.

“In view of this, the union has decided to take this matter to the public space once again so that Nigerians will be properly informed and will not blame us but the government because of their insensitivity and non-responsiveness to the issues of university education in the country.”

Members of the Union who marched in solidarity on the campus were seen carrying different placards with inscriptions such as “IPPIS is a scam”, “Pay all our outstanding promotion arrears”, “FG give our children proper education”, “enough is enough: govern us, not to oppress us”, among others.