The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reiterated its call for urgent measures to improve the wellbeing of its members and learning facilities in the nation’s universities.
Mr Ikechukwu Igwenyi, ASUU Zonal Coordinator, Calabar Zone, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abakaliki.
According to Igwenyi, proper funding will enhance qualitative learning.
He decried the establishment new institutions by the Federal Government without proper funding.
Igwenyi also harped on the need to settle the outstanding salaries of the university workers.
“We call on the Federal Government, to pay without further delay, the three and half months of lecturers withheld salaries in federal and varying months in state owned-universities for participating in the 2022 strike.
“Pay the promotion arrears and third-party deductions which are part of workers earned salaries.
“Government should, without delay, sign and implement the already concluded agreement.”
He said ASUU, in keeping with the conditions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, could use strike as a veritable tool to get its demands.
“Denying our members their salaries for the period of being on strike, and for work that has now been completed is against labour best practices.
“Government’s leaning on the obnoxious “No-Work No-Pay Policy” is a threat and breach of labour laws, and this is to further heighten the already tensed work environment.
“Let it not be forgotten that the last protracted strike was unwillingly suspended on the heels of interventions and promises made both formally and informally by well-meaning Nigerians,” he said.
The ASUU zonal coordinator said that education was not merely a sector, but foundation of national development.
According to him, education is the seedbed of innovation, stability, and progress.
“In this direction, it is time to end the victimisation of our members in Kogi State University (now Prince Abubakar Audu University) for more than eight years; it is time to address the situation in Lagos State University and Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
“When we fail to prioritise functional education, we do not just weaken our classrooms, we endanger our future.
“This is not an issue of capacity, but of commitment; a government that truly believes in the promise of its people must show that belief through its policies and actions—especially in education.
“The 14 days ultimatum for the Federal Government to sign and implement the agreement it reached with the union will expire on Oct. 12.’’
He said if the issues were not addressed satisfactorily at the expiration of the ultimatum, stakeholders should be held to blame.
“Governments at all levels, past leaders, the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly; traditional and religious leaders and the entire public shall be responsible for the outcome for refusing to live up to their historic responsibilities,” he said.
