The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has once again expressed disappointment with the Federal Government, accusing it of failing to show genuine interest in resolving the long-standing issues between them.
ASUU is warning of an impending nationwide strike, with the union claiming the government has made little effort to prevent another round of industrial action in Nigeria’s public universities.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Nigerian Tribune, Professor Adelaja Odukoya, the Lagos Zonal Coordinator of ASUU and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), said the government’s lack of commitment over the past two months has made it clear that there is no real intention to meet the union’s demands.
“No Progress in Talks with FG”—ASUU
According to Professor Odukoya, the Federal Government has not taken any meaningful steps toward addressing the issues raised by ASUU, despite the union’s repeated warnings.
He explained that ASUU had issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government, which ended last Sunday, urging them to meet their demands.
However, the government has not responded adequately, and there is no indication that progress has been made.
Odukoya stated, “There is nothing new as we speak concerning our issues with the government. The government has not shown any seriousness or readiness to address any of the issues that have been pending for years.”
ASUU’s frustrations are mounting, and the union believes the Federal Government is deliberately stalling the negotiations.
Professor Odukoya explained that the government has been requesting information that is already in its possession, which has only led to further delays.
“They ask for information that is already in their files and also in the public domain, just to buy time. We keep providing the same information, yet nothing tangible comes out of it,” he said.
A History of Unresolved Issues
ASUU’s grievances with the Federal Government date back several years, with numerous issues left unresolved despite multiple strikes and negotiations.
Among the key demands of the union are improved funding for public universities, payment of earned academic allowances, and the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as a replacement for the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), which ASUU says is not suited for the university system.
ASUU has also been calling for the revitalization of Nigeria’s public universities, many of which suffer from inadequate infrastructure, underfunding, and a lack of modern teaching and research equipment.
The union believes that the government has consistently failed to prioritize education, and this is evident in its handling of the ongoing dispute.
Odukoya emphasized that the government’s poor approach to the issues raised by ASUU has made it clear that there is no real commitment to improving the state of Nigeria’s public universities.
ASUU’s Ultimatums and Due Process
ASUU’s leadership has stressed that they have followed all necessary procedures to avoid blame for any industrial action that may occur.
Professor Odukoya pointed out that the union has issued several ultimatums to the Federal Government in recent months, but these warnings have gone unheeded.
“The last two ultimatums issued by ASUU to the government were part of the due process we need to follow as a responsible and democratic union,” he said.
He further explained that ASUU’s approach is meant to show that the union is acting in good faith and giving the government ample opportunity to address their concerns before resorting to industrial action.
However, Odukoya made it clear that if the crisis leads to another strike, ASUU will not be held responsible for the disruption to Nigeria’s university system.
“We will not be blamed if the crisis eventually leads to industrial disharmony,” he warned.
Impact of Previous Strikes on Education
ASUU’s history of strikes has significantly impacted Nigeria’s education sector, particularly public universities.
Over the past decade, the union has embarked on several strikes, some of which have lasted for months, disrupting academic calendars and affecting the lives of millions of students.
The most recent strike, which lasted from February to October 2022, kept students out of school for eight months, causing a significant backlog in academic activities.
Many students, parents, and education stakeholders have voiced concerns over the frequent strikes, which they say are damaging the future of Nigerian students.
A student at the University of Lagos, who preferred to remain anonymous, shared his frustration with the looming strike, saying, “We’ve been through this so many times. It’s like the government and ASUU don’t care about us. Every time they go on strike, we lose months of our lives, and nobody seems to care.”
The recurring strikes have also affected the global ranking of Nigerian universities, with many public institutions struggling to compete internationally due to the unstable academic calendar.
Federal Government’s Response
The Federal Government has yet to make an official statement regarding the latest warning from ASUU.
However, previous statements from government officials suggest that the government is aware of the issues but has been slow to respond to the union’s demands.
In earlier discussions, the government had argued that it was working to meet some of ASUU’s demands, but it also pointed out that budgetary constraints have made it difficult to fully address the union’s concerns.
Despite these assurances, ASUU remains unconvinced that the government is serious about finding a lasting solution to the crisis in Nigeria’s university system.
