ABUJA – The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address lingering issues affecting the nation’s university system or face industrial action.
The ultimatum was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Yakubu Gowon University, formerly University of Abuja.
The statement, released on Monday in Abuja, was signed by the union’s president, Prof. Christopher Piwuna.
Piwuna said the decision followed what he described as the persistent neglect of the education sector and the welfare of university lecturers by both Federal and State governments.
“If at the end of the 14 days ultimatum the Federal Government fails to address these issues, the union may have no option but to, first, embark on a two-week warning strike and thereafter, an indefinite strike,” he said.
He recalled that ASUU had repeatedly raised concerns over the past three months through media engagements, campus rallies and appeals, without any concrete response from government.
The unresolved issues, according to him, include the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, sustainable funding and revitalisation of public universities, and non-payment of outstanding 25–35 percent salary arrears.
Others are unresolved promotion arrears spanning over four years, non-remittance of third-party deductions, and alleged victimisation of members at Lagos State University (LASU), Kogi State University (KSU) and Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).
Piwuna called on Nigerians, including religious and traditional leaders, parents, students and other stakeholders, to prevail on the government to act swiftly to avert the looming strike.
“The 14-day ultimatum is an alarm to the Nigerian Government. We believe the government has the capacity and financial strength to fix Nigerian universities once and for all. As they say, a stitch in time saves nine,” he said.