By Mahdi Waziri Isa
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a strong warning of an impending strike, citing the federal government’s failure to fulfill agreements and address critical issues in the education sector.
At a press conference in Abuja on Friday, ASUU President Prof. Chris Piwuna expressed frustration over the government’s inaction, particularly regarding the unresolved 2009 agreement. “We have exhausted our patience in waiting for this renegotiated agreement,” Piwuna declared, urging the Yayale Ahmed Committee to finalize negotiations.
The union accused the Tinubu administration of perpetuating institutional weaknesses and corruption, with Piwuna stating: “The ordinary citizens of our country have become the victims of prolonged political manipulations and economic exploitation by the ruling class and their foreign sponsors.”
Key unresolved grievances include, non-implementation of the 2021 Nimi Briggs Committee agreement; withheld salaries from the 2022 strike action; unpaid salaries of sabbatical and adjunct staff; non-release of N150 billion revitalization fund; and alleged diversion of TETFund resources to NELFUND
Piwuna criticized the government’s approach to education, saying: “The governments of Nigeria merely pay lip service to the business of education in general and the welfare of university academics in particular.”
While acknowledging some government commitments, including a promised N150 billion revitalization fund and budget allocations for earned allowances, Piwuna noted these promises remain unfulfilled. “Two years into the Tinubu administration, there has been no positive improvement as it relates to the education sector,” he stated.
The union leader lamented how Nigerians are still suffering almost three decades after returning to civilian rule, blaming attributing it to lack of transparency and accountability.
“Almost three decades since Nigeria’s return to civilian governance, it is not yet Uhuru. The country is still pathetically trapped in the web of multifaceted political malfeasance graphically sign-posted by prebendal politics, mindless manipulation of electoral processes, brazen nepotism and deliberate subversion of people’s will at every level of governance. The sum total of all these is that transparency and accountability have become rare commodities in the hands of the managers of the Nigerian state. Consequently, the generality of citizenry have become despondent, having lost hope and faith in government and its agencies.”