ASUU set for indefinite strike over government’s failure to adopt a 2009 agreement
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned of an impending strike in Nigerian universities due to lecturer salary stagnation since 2009, despite the country’s challenging economic conditions.
Professor Monday Igbafen, Coordinator of the ASUU Benin Zone, emphasised this concern during a press conference in Benin City.
As quoted by Vanguard, he said: “Recall the Renegotiation with Nimi Briggs’ Committee, which was completed within six months, and the truncation of its process of signing by the then Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige.
“It is disturbing that from 2021 till date, the document has remained in its draft form, and the most obvious implication of the truncation of the renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement is that university teachers in Nigeria have been on the same salary regime since 2009, when the value of Naira to a dollar was N120.”
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He also expressed dissatisfaction with the growing number of universities established by the federal and state governments, which require additional funding.
Igbafen pointed out that states in the Benin Zone, such as Edo and Ondo, do not provide adequate university funding.
He emphasised that the government has consistently failed to carry out agreements with the union to improve lecturers’ welfare.
Igbafen stated: “The suffocating situation in public universities can no longer be tolerated and allowed to continue.
“Let the patriots in the media, labour movement, student groups and civil society organizations rise in support of the looming struggle to ensure that Government does the needful to restore the Nigerian university system once and for all.”
According to another report, 46 educators, including professors, have died in Nigeria’s educational sector in a relatively short period of time.
ASUU attributes these deaths to the difficulties that citizens face under Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership.
ASUU set for indefinite strike over government’s failure to adopt a 2009 agreement
