ASUU issues fresh 14 days ultimatum against FG
Ani Bassey
The Calabar Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a fresh 14 days ultimatum against the federal government.
The union insists that the government is not interested in resolving lingering issues with the union and should be held responsible for the upcoming industrial dispute in the country’s ivory towers.
Comrade Happiness Uduk Zonal Chairperson of ASUU Calabar Zone made this known in a press release made available in Calabar.
The release which was signed by branch heads of ASUU in the zone expressed their anger, frustration over unfulfilled promises that have tirelessly bedeviled their struggle over the years.
ASUU insists that in a letter dated 20th August, 2024, the Union gave Government a 21-day ultimatum for the resolution of all the issues in contention since 2009 and nothing tangible has come out from it.
The union said rather, government agents were more concerned with receiving allowances for convening such meetings from tax-payers money and the funds that our Government claims it does not have.
ASUU also mentioned ten (10) issues in contention including which has remained unresolved over the years.
Some of these issues include conclusion of the re-negotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Draft Agreement by the Nimi Briggs Committee in 2021, which is already out of date given the reality of the current Dollar/Naira ratio.
The union also expressed regret the Government has refused to even address issues that are non-monetary; the most visible being the exit of Universities from the obnoxious IPPIS in spite of a Presidential Directive and a Court order since Dec. 2023.
ASUU said “they have resolved to give government 14 more days ultimatum to the earlier 21 days beginning from Monday, 23rd September, 2024 within which all issues must have been totally addressed to the satisfaction of our poorly-treated members.
“Our Union will withdraw services, and should not be held responsible for breakdown in industrial harmony which will arise as a result of government’s insensitivity, insincerity, indifference and time-buying tactics”, he said.
The Union calls on those in authority as well as their agents to seize this window so as to forestall the looming crisis.
