The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the Federal Government of insincerity in its approach to collective bargaining and the welfare of academic staff in public universities.
In a statement issued on Wednesday after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, the union said the government had consistently failed to honour agreements reached with it, despite repeated assurances and negotiations.
ASUU lamented that the government’s attitude toward implementing the 2009 Agreement and other subsequent Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) and Memoranda of Action (MoA) was “nonchalant and deceptive,” describing it as a major cause of the persistent crises in the university system.
According to the statement signed by ASUU’s National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, the union expressed dismay that issues such as the renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement, improved funding for universities, payment of withheld salaries, and the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) had remained unresolved for years.
“ASUU has observed with great disappointment the lack of genuine commitment by the Federal Government to the welfare of academic staff and the revitalization of Nigerian universities. This insincerity has continued to erode trust and deepen industrial disharmony in the system,” the statement read.
Prof. Piwuna warned that the union would not continue to watch while the government undermined the nation’s tertiary education system, adding that the poor condition of service for lecturers was contributing to a massive brain drain in the sector.
He said the union’s leadership had exhausted all peaceful means of engagement, including dialogue and correspondence, but the government’s response had been “largely superficial and unproductive.”
The ASUU president urged the government to demonstrate seriousness by immediately addressing the pending issues, saying failure to do so could compel the union to take “necessary action in the interest of Nigerian universities and the future of the nation’s youth.”
He also called on well-meaning Nigerians, civil society groups, and stakeholders in the education sector to prevail on the government to honour its promises and restore integrity to the collective bargaining process.
“ASUU remains committed to constructive engagement but will not compromise on principles that guarantee the survival of public universities and the dignity of the academic profession,” Piwuna added.
The union’s latest outcry comes amid renewed tension between ASUU and the Federal Government over the union’s warning strike and demands for improved conditions in the nation’s university system.
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