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Says FG, states rake in trillions, yet can’t pay varsity lecturers
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
The Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU), Abuja Zone, has called on Nigerians to persuade the Federal Government to resolve all outstanding issues with the union to avoid another preventable industrial action.
The Zonal Coordinator, ASUU Abuja Zone, Prof. Al-Amin Abdullahi, made the call during a news conference on Monday in Abuja.
Abdullahi, who was represented by the ASUU Chairman, University of Abuja chapter, Dr Sylvanus Ugoh, said the future of Nigeria’s public universities and that of the students could not be sacrificed on the altar of insecurity, indifference and political grandstanding.
He said the purpose of the news conference was to inform Nigerians about the union’s interface with the Federal Government in light of the recent suspension of its warning strike.
“We wish to reaffirm that the issues include the renegotiation and full execution of the 2009 ASUU Agreement, which addresses greater academic autonomy, better funding, staff welfare and revitalisation of public universities.
“There is also the immediate release of our members’ salaries that were withheld for three and half months without a valid reason.
“Payment of substantial unpaid arrears, like one year of the 25 per cent/35 per cent wage award, withheld third-party deductions, such as cooperative funds and union check-off dues still remains unresolved.”
He explained that the government proposals were elevated at the emergency NEC meeting on October 21.
He said in spite of the extreme inadequacy, the offers were accepted in good faith to allow for meaningful resumption of collective bargaining.
“Consequently, on October 22, out of respect for our students, parents, media, NLC and other well-meaning Nigerians who supported our struggle, NEC suspended the two-week action.
“We gave the Federal Government one month to complete negotiations and show sincere commitment to implement the proposals.
“Almost four weeks since the suspension, it is obvious the Federal Government has not used this goodwill period effectively.
“The administration has not demonstrated the necessary urgency to address the persistent issues plaguing public universities,” he said.
Abdullahi said the government must move quickly to prevent another industrial dispute in the Nigerian public universities.
He said the effect of unpaid salary awards, withheld salaries, unremitted deductions and underfunding had been devastating as students face prolonged calendars, heightened financial burdens and disrupted learning journeys. He said that the national project of building competent future leaders, innovators and professionals was being severely undermined.
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The zonal coordinator said that another major area of disagreement in the Federal Government proposal was the issue of salary and conditions of service, saying they are inadequate and below the expectations of members. He said that the union had recognised the government’s actions, such as the release of some third party deductions and the partial payment of promotion arrears dated back to 2017.
He said the action was an attempt to foster confidence rather than a commitment to resolve the main contention.
According to him, the best way to revitalise public universities is through sincere negotiation rather than propaganda.
“However when agreements are broken, payments are withheld, or deception is employed in place of interaction, the union has a moral and constitutional obligation to defend public education and safeguard its members.
“ASUU will not think twice about using every lawful tool at its disposal if the government continues to trivialise challenges that undermine the existence of public universities”, he said.
Institutions under Abuja Zone comprises of UniAbuja, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State University, Keffi and Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai.
In a related development, the Calabar Zone of the union faulted the priorities of the Federal Government as regards lecturers’ welfare in Nigeria. It said while the Federal Government and states rake in trillions of Naira with over 70 percent increase in revenue, lecturers are still underpaid.
The union disclosed this in a statement by its zonal coordinator, Ikechuku Igwenyi and eight other executives of the zone.
“We hereby state that the problem is not paucity of funds as government posits but lack of political will to invest in the development of Nigeria.
“Empirical data from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has revealed that in 2022, states received N3.02 trillion while in 2024, the figures rose to N5.81 trillion with an increase of over 62 percent.
Similarly, federal allocations rose from N3.42 trillion in 2022 to N4.65 trillion with an increase of over 70 percent.
“This is clear evidence that the government has the capacity to pay lecturers in the ivory towers a befitting salary, where professors are generals in their own right.”
The union accused the Federal Government of inconsistency and dilatory approach to agreements, engagements and negotiations.
“This grand-standing and posture of never letting them have their way is not the best approach as there is no competition, and therefore, no winner or loser,” the union said.
ASUU insisted that education is the foundation of personal and national development and no nation can rise above the quality of its universities.
The union demanded among others that the government fulfills its obligations to the Nigerian people by funding education and full implementation of agreements.
