The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Federal Government to meet with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) regarding the recent strike threat.
The student body noted that a strike was not advisable at this point in time.
NANS Senate President, Akinteye Babatunde made this known in an interview in Abuja following a fresh 14-day ultimatum issued by ASUU on Wednesday over failed negotiations with the Federal Government.
“We are asking the Federal Government to meet with ASUU and discuss with them because ASUU strike at this point in time is not advisable,” Akinteye said.
ASUU gave the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to resolve several lingering issues. ASUU is seeking the conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021, as well as the release of withheld salaries due to the 2022 strike action.
Additionally, ASUU is demanding the release of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, and the payment of outstanding third-party deductions such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions.
The union is also seeking funding for the revitalisation of public universities, partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget, and the payment of Earned Academic Allowances partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget.
Other issues include the proliferation of universities by federal and state governments, the implementation of the reports of visitation panels to universities, the reversal of the illegal dissolution of Governing Councils, and the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution as a replacement for IPPIS.
ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, in a statement issued on Wednesday, expressed frustration with the government’s lack of commitment and delay tactics, stating that these actions were fuelling a crisis in the public university system.
The union said it had consulted with various stakeholders and was calling on well-meaning Nigerians to urge the government to address these issues.
“In view of the foregoing, ASUU resolves to give the Nigerian Government another 14 days, in addition to the earlier 21 days, beginning from Monday, 23rd September 2024 during which all the lingering issues must have been concretely addressed to the satisfaction of the membership of the union.
“The union should not be held responsible for any industrial disharmony that arises from the government’s failure to seize the new opportunity offered by ASUU to nip the looming crisis in the bud,” ASUU said.