Strike looms as UNIZIK ASUU bemoans state of Nigerian universities

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By Madu Obi

Awka- HUNDREDS of members of Nnamdi Azikiwe University branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, hinted of an impending strike on Tuesday, as they expressed displeasure over the way both the federal and state governments are reneging on agreements concerning their welfare in government-owned universities.

The ASUU members, who marched through the the Awka campus of the institution, later moved to the Enugu-Onitsha expressway where they caused traffic gridlock for about 30 minutes, to drive home their demand for immediate action by the government.

Some of the placards displayed by the ASUU members read: "We teach, we care, we deserve better pay";, "We demand fair pay for fair work;" "Stop suffocating lecturers"; and "End poverty level salaries".

Among their demands were conclusion of the re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, immediate payment of three and half months withheld salaries, sustainable funding of universities, revitalization of public universities, end to the victimization of their colleges in Lagos State University, LASU, Kogi State University, KSU (now Prince AbubakarAudu University), Federal University of Technology,Owerri, FUTO, as well as payment of outstanding 25-35% salary arrears and promotion arrears for over four years.

They also complained about what they called third party deductions, reminding government that the most powerful weapon against poverty, extremism and ignorance is not the bullet, but education.

Chairperson of ASUU in the institution, Innocent. Nnubia, who later addressed a press conference, recalled that government made promises to address the lingering issues, regretting that all the issues were yet to be addressed.

Nnubia said: "We in ASUU, Nnamdi Azikiwe University branch, want to inform the government and the general public that time is running out and we should not be held responsible if there is a breakdown of industrial harmony in our campuses.

ASUU NAU calls for the immediate conclusion of the re-negotiation process of the 2009 ASUU -FGN by signing the draft agreement. The 2009 agreement was due for renew in 2012, but here we are still in the same salary after 16 years. Is this not a show of shame?

As at 2009, a professor earned about $3000 in salary, but today the professor's salary is less than $400. This is pitiable and unacceptable.

Government cannot continue with its delay tactics forever. The general public is invited to note that ASUU has shown great patience and has reached her limits

The general public should also note that ASUU has written several letters to the FGN, drawing its attention to the need to resolve this crisis amicably. Lamentably, the FGN has always turned a deaf ear to all our pleas. We can no longer guarantee industrial harmony as our members are tired, hungry and weak. The time to act is now."

On the withheld three and half months salaries by the federal government during the 2022 national strike, Nnubia said ASUU should not be blamed for strike.

"Government cannot beat a child and urge him/her not to cry. The government instigated the strike by failing to honour agreements entered with the union in various memoranda of understanding and action. Moreover, our members have long completed all the outstanding academic works and therefore demand their payments", he argued.

He said further: "It is really disturbing that despite the hardship being faced by members of ASUU, payment of outstanding 25-35% salary arrears is still outstanding. ASUU NAU demands the immediate payment of these arrears.

As a survival strategy, some of our members embarked on thrift contribution of part of their salaries payable to some cooperative societies. These contributions were requested to be deducted from source, and remit same to the cooperative societies.

It is disturbing that the federal government, after the deductions, failed to remit same to the cooperative societies. This, to us, is a deliberate act to strangulate/frustrate members of union, hence, ASUU NAU demands the immediate remittance of these monies to the respective cooperative societies as it is a criminal act to withhold third party deductions."

He also lamented that several members of ASUU, who were promoted several years ago are yet to receive their promotion arrears, adding that this has drastically affected the productivity of many members.

"How can one expend energy serving his or her nation in all honesty and still be denied of having access to part of his or her hard earnings? Members have really endured all sorts of manmade hardships in the hands of our so called leaders, and this has to be put to an end", Nnubia stated.