According to the Academic Staff Union of Universities, it is fed up with the federal government breaking agreements it has made with the union.
The government announced in September 2023 that the remuneration of employees at tertiary institutions would be reviewed higher by 35%, with effect from January 2023. Strikes at government-owned colleges have occasionally resulted from ASUU demands, such as the payment of Earned Academic Allowance and the unprogressive renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement.
Additionally, it committed to paying four months’ salary out of the seven and a half months that payments were withheld during the nationwide strike in 2022.
In contrast, ASUU’s national president, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, expressed dissatisfaction in an interview with the FG, claiming that none of the aforementioned commitments had been kept.
“Not a single thing has been done by FG,” declared Osodeke. Not a single official statement. The ASUU National Executive Council will convene in February 2024 to deliberate and make decisions regarding these matters. Nothing has been paid, including the EAA, pay award, delayed salary, and 25% and 35% salary increments that were backdated to January 2023.
The chairman of ASUU-University of Lagos, Prof. Kayode Adebayo, also spoke, reiterating that it was embarrassing for the government to constantly go to the media and make promises it was not prepared to carry out. Adebayo insisted that their hope was fading, pointing out that the government had also promised to pay a palliative of N35,000 for six months, but had only done so for two months.
“Everything has been at a standstill, nothing is happening,” Adebayo said, adding that they were consulting nationally and that their NEC meeting would soon determine the next course of action.
“We want to look into every possibility. We are tired of the administration using the media to spread propaganda instead of listening to us. They merely removed us from IPPIS, and that was it. However, they failed to pay the salary of seven and a half.
They continued by discussing a wage review that would increase pay by 25% to 35% and be retroactive to January 2023; as of right now, no money has been disbursed. It is merely a news statement.
Additionally, they made a ₦35,000 palliative payment guarantee, which they fulfilled for two of the six months. The Earned Academic Allowance and similar programs are not being discussed. We never give up hope till it does,” he remarked.
The next course of action will be decided at the NEC meeting, which will take place shortly after our nationwide consultation.