The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Abuja zone, has called on Nigerians especially parents to hold the Federal Government responsible if another long and lasting industrial strike action is embarked upon in the country.
Dr Salahu Mohammed Lawal, the Zonal Coordinator of the union disclosed this during a press conference in Gwagwalada on Tuesday.
Dr Lawal said the union can no longer guarantee industrial harmony in public niversities due to the ongoing atitude of Government to MoA’s and MoU’s agreed upon.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the zone comprises Federal University of Lafia, Federal University of Technology Minna, Nasarawa State University, keffi, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, and the University of Abuja.
He said Nigerians, especially parents who have children in public universities should hold the Government responsible for the consequencies thay may arise from the non-implementation of the agreements.
“Our Demands are; the implementation of all outstanding provisions in the 7th February, 2021 FGN/ASUU Memorandum of Action.
“The immediate deplyment of ASUU’s innovation of a more robust system of human resource management and compensation, called the University Transperancy and Accountability Solution (UTAS).
“Immediate payment of outstanding Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) to
our members.
“The full implemetation of the 2009 FGN/ ASUU Agreement asrenegotiated in 2021, based on ILO’s collective bargaining pricinples.
“Immediate action on the report of the Presidential Visitation Panels toFederal Universities without delay.
“Immediate action on the recommendations of the Committee on State
Universities,” he said.
According to him, the Government, as it has laways done again, reneged on its promises to the Union and the Nation, thereby could lead to another industrial strike action in the Universities.
He said the unions agitations has been acknowledged by the Government but has not been demonstrated in commensurable action since the suspension of the strike.
“Recall that our union signed an MoA with the Governement leading to the suspension of the 2020 strike action in February 2021.
“Almost 9 months on, the ASUU is again calling on the Government to honour its promises to the Nigerian people on the immediate deployment of the University Transperancy and Accountability Solution (UTAS).
“The singning into law of the draft renegotiated 2009 agreement, and the release of Revitalization Funds to
public Universities, this will address the deplorable conditions under which our children live and learn.
“ASUU has for long laid bare to both Government and Nigerians the decrepit state of infrastructure on our campuses which has been the bane of research activities in our Universities.
“The imposition of the obnoxious Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) on our universities, despite its demonstrated shortcomings, is a
clear case of the unneccessary meddlesomeness in the internal administrative procedures.
“In other words, the Government is pushing for another round of strike in our universities, Why is the Government relunctant to dismantle the IPPIS infrastruture in the universities.?, he said. (NAN)
