ASUU to Tinubu: Sign renegotiated draft to improve lecturers welfare

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has asked President Bola Tinubu-led government to immediate implement the Nimi Briggs renegotiated draft report as a crucial step towards revitalizing Nigeria’s public universities.

The ASUU said this would go a long way to repositioning Nigeria’s public universities.

ASUU stated this at a joint news conference held in Sokoto on Saturday, June 22, convened by its chapters of Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and Sokoto State University.

Muhammad N. Mustapha and Saidu I. Abubakar, representatives of the union at the conference, highlighted several critical issues plaguing public universities in Nigeria.

ASUU condemned the Federal Government’s failure to implement the already concluded Nimi Briggs report, saying the report addresses the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement between the government and ASUU.

Acvording to ASUU, the report would address among other grievances the issue of the withheld salaries and earned academic allowances, illegal dissolution of governing councils, and delayed implementation of the wage award.

Also, ASUU expressed worries about the completion of infrastructure projects, such as staff quarters at Sokoto State University, promotion arrears, underfunding of universities, and the broader socio-economic crisis affecting the country.

According to the union, these issues have severely impacted the quality of education and exacerbated the security situation nationwide.

They also highlighted their disappointment that universities continue to operate under the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), despite ASUU’s longstanding rejection of the platform due to concerns over university autonomy.

Specifically, ASUU accused certain elements within and outside the government of undermining the directive to remove universities from IPPIS, highlighting ongoing ambiguities in the transition process.

They lamented the government’s failure to disburse funds allocated to address the outstanding Needs Assessment Intervention Fund and Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).

They said despite promises made during the 2022 struggle, no substantial funds have been released to universities, exacerbating financial hardships across the educational sector.

ASUU affirmed its unwavering commitment to its mission and pledged to collaborate with media, labour movements, student groups, and civil society organizations to advocate for the transformation and revitalization of Nigeria’s university system.

The union restated its call for urgent government intervention to address these pressing issues and ensure the sustainable development of the educational sector.

ASUU urged President Tinubu’s administration to prioritize the signing of the Nimi Briggs renegotiated draft as a demonstration of goodwill towards addressing the plight of Nigerian universities and ensuring a conducive environment for academic excellence and research.