The University of Nigeria is once again in the midst of a looming crisis fuelled by the unmet demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on the federal government. Tensions are mounting as ASUU plans to declare a strike following the imminent expiry of the 14-day deadline for the government to respond to their demands.
The Calabar Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Comrade Happiness Uduk, has put the government on notice, saying it will be held responsible for any disruption to industrial harmony that results from its indifference to their plight. The deterioration in relations between the government and ASUU is attributed to the callousness, insincerity, indifference and delaying tactics employed by the authorities.
The union decries the lack of concrete progress in negotiations with the government, stressing that the multiple meetings and encounters undertaken have not yielded any significant progress, but have instead been used to spend public funds on compensation for government employees. ASUU members express frustration over years of unfulfilled promises and stalled dialogue, endangering the stability of higher education institutions.
The grievances raised by ASUU include the need for a speedy conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU/FGN Agreement, as well as the implementation of the Memoranda of Understanding concluded between 2013 and 2022 that have remained a dead letter. The union deplores the lack of government involvement in the implementation of the agreements concluded after years of negotiations, thus leaving university workers in a situation of wage insecurity and inconsistent management of their income.
In a 14-day ultimatum to the government, ASUU is demanding concrete action to address its members’ concerns or risk a general strike that could paralyze the country’s education system. Despite the challenges, the union remains committed to defending the interests of its members and continuing its struggle for decent working conditions and reforms in the education sector.
The current impasse between the government and ASUU underscores the ongoing tensions in Nigeria’s higher education sector, highlighting the dysfunctional social dialogue and the need for urgent action to avert a major crisis. The stakes are high, and it is up to the authorities to take meaningful steps to ensure the stability and quality of education in the country.