Shutdown Looms As ASUU Issues 14-day Ultimatum, SSANU, NASU Begin Strike October 6 Over Unresolved Issues

BARRING any immediate resolution, the Nigeria’s public universities would be shut down at the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum given to the Federal Government by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at its Sunday, September 28 National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the University of Abuja in a document signed by ots National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna.
Meanwhile, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has threatened to commence indefinite strike on October 6, at the end of its two-week extension of ultimatum to the Federal Government over the abandonment of renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement.
SSANU expressed concern over what it described as the Federal Government’s persistent disregard for Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), Memoranda of Action (MoAs) and other duly negotiated collective bargaining agreements entered into by the two parties.
It stressed that the such agreements, reached through structured dialogue and mutual consent, are binding and must be honoured in full, warning that if the pattern of neglect continued, it will explore all lawful and appropriate avenues to compel compliance, including strike.
In a communique issued at the end of its 52nd NEC meeting held at the Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, the Imo State capital, signed by its President, Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, the union decried the inequitable and negligible allocation of the N50billion Earned Allowance, wherein only 20 per cent, or N10billion was allotted to the three non-teaching unions- SSANU, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), as against the N50billion agreed in the MoU/MoA before the suspension of the 2022 strike.
It stated: “This allocation is unjust, discriminatory and fails to acknowledge the indispensable role SSANU members play in the effective functioning of Nigerian universities.
“It is also in breach of the MoU/MoA signed with the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU in August 2022.
“NEC strongly calls on the government to honour the two weeks extension given by JAC of SSANU/NASU to avert the impending industrial crisis in the university system.”
On the non-payment of withheld salaries, the communique stated: “NEC strongly condemns the continued withholding of salaries of SSANU members who participated in the 2022 industrial action.
“NEC, therefore, urges the Federal Government to immediately release the outstanding two months withheld salaries as a demonstration of good faith and commitment to restoring industrial harmony within the University system.
“NEC also notes that third-party deductions from the already paid two months of withheld salaries have yet to be remitted and therefore calls for the immediate release of these funds.”
“NEC observes that Nigeria’s education sector, from primary to tertiary levels, suffers from inadequate funding and outdated facilities.
“The Council calls for modernisation of learning environments, stronger support for technical and vocational training and equitable development of both teaching and non-teaching staff through fair remuneration and continuous professional development.”
On its part, ASUU, at the NEC meeting, decried the neglect of the university system and government’s consistent refusal to heed to its demands, adding: “Accordingly, ASUU has given the Federal Government of Nigeria an ultimatum of fourteen (14) days within which to address these issues.
“If at the end of the fourteen-day ultimatum, the Federal Government fails to address these issues, the union may have no option but to, first, embark on a two-week warning strike, and thereafter, a total and indefinite strike.”