The Owerri Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on the Federal Government to stop merely paying lip service to public education in Nigeria. During a press conference in Owerri, Imo State, Zonal Coordinator Dennis Aribodor accused the government of significantly underfunding public universities and treating university lecturers as “16th-century slaves.”

ASUU has announced plans to shut down universities nationwide within the next 14 days if the government fails to address ongoing welfare issues affecting public university lecturers. Aribodor stated that this decision follows a National Executive Council resolution made during a meeting at the University of Ibadan on August 17-18, 2024, which had already given the government a 21-day ultimatum to resolve these issues.

Key issues highlighted include:

• Completion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021.
• Payment of three-and-a-half months’ withheld salaries due to the 2022 strike action.
• Resolution of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments impacted by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
• Funding for the revitalization of public universities, as partially outlined in the 2023 Federal Government budget.
• Payment of Earned Academic Allowances and addressing outstanding third-party deductions.

Aribodor emphasized that the government’s continued failure to implement the Memoranda of Understanding from past agreements has exacerbated crises in public universities. He expressed frustration over the government’s refusal to address non-monetary issues and its slow progress in finalizing agreements.

The ASUU leader criticized the government for its bureaucratic delays and failure to heed recommendations from visitation panels while highlighting the disparity between the government’s claims of insufficient funds and the actual financial resources available.

Aribodor reiterated ASUU’s commitment to dialogue and collective bargaining but cautioned that the government’s continued empty promises and delays could lead to further unrest in the public university system.

ASUU is urging all stakeholders, including the Anambra and Imo State governments, to take a more active role in addressing the welfare of university staff. The union emphasized that the Federal Government has 14 days to address these issues to avoid an impending industrial crisis.