Concerns are rising over a potential clash between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the federal government regarding issues related to members’ welfare and working conditions.

ASUU members express disappointment with President Bola Tinubu for failing to fulfill promises made, including the release of eight months’ withheld salaries resulting from the 2022 strike and the implementation of a six-month N35,000 wage award and salary review.

The union is frustrated by the government’s consistent failure to honor its agreements with organized labor, particularly ASUU, since Tinubu’s administration assumed office.

Despite Tinubu’s assurances that his administration would take necessary actions to prevent future university strikes, the government has not taken significant visible steps to address ASUU’s grievances.

Tinubu had urged unions in universities to cooperate with the government and emphasized the need for dialogue and positive engagement rather than resorting to strike actions.

Almost four months after Tinubu approved a partial waiver of the ‘No Work, No Pay’ order imposed on striking ASUU members in 2022, the government has yet to disburse the withheld salaries.

ASUU is currently engaged in nationwide consultations with its members to discuss the non-implementation of government agreements.

In addition to the withheld salaries, the union members have not been removed from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) as directed by the President.

ASUU has been advocating for the abolition of IPPIS in favor of its own creation, the University Transparency Account System (UTAS), which it believes better addresses the specific needs of universities.

Despite the government’s announcement of a wage increase and the backdated payment of salaries for tertiary institution workers, these promises remain unfulfilled.

The National President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, states that none of the agreements reached with the government have been implemented and that members have not received any payment.

ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) is conducting consultations with branches nationwide to gather suggestions and determine the next course of action, which will be decided at the NEC meeting later this month.

ASUU members, including the branch chairman of ASUU UNN, Comrade Nobert Oyibo Eze, lament the difficult situation they face, with salaries no longer sufficient to meet their needs.

Eze criticizes the government for making promises but failing to fulfill them, pointing out that President Tinubu, who pledged to address ASUU’s demands during his campaign, has not kept his word despite multiple assurances.

The situation has become increasingly challenging for university staff, and they are now awaiting the decisions made at the upcoming NEC meeting to determine their next steps. 

The deplorable state of affairs continues to worsen, with the exchange rate wreaking havoc. In 2011, a professor used to receive approximately $2,700 as an equivalent salary.

“Today, a professor’s salary is equivalent to $255. This amount can barely cover groceries in a UK supermarket. This is what a professor in the Nigerian academic system is earning,” lamented a representative.

Furthermore, despite the lack of improvement, the government withheld seven-and-a-half months’ worth of salaries as punishment for the previous strike.

“Is it a crime to voice our concerns? Workers across the globe go on strike when the government fails to fulfill its obligations according to labor laws. Withholding our salary won’t deter us from striking. You can’t punish a child and expect them not to cry,” they added.

The representative criticized the Nigerian government for accumulating millions of funds without paying workers. The healthcare and education sectors remain neglected, while the government seeks to evade responsibility. They highlighted the need for true federalism, where local resources are managed for the development of universities.

The situation within universities has become extremely challenging for everyone involved. The government’s tactics are well-known, as they make promises in the media but fail to deliver. Even after wage awards were announced, no payments have been made, including the much-publicized four months’ salary.

ASUU’s national executive has engaged with government officials, including the Minister of Education, to address outstanding payments. However, the only progress made is the discussion of removing the union from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). Despite this, payments for December and January were still processed through IPPIS.

The representative shared their own salary as an example, revealing that an associate professor takes home N332,000.00. They emphasized that even newly appointed professors are earning less than N300,000.00, which is insufficient to meet basic needs.

The representative extended the issue beyond academic staff in public universities, stressing that it affects the entire workforce in the country. They criticized corruption in institutions like the Central Bank, where thousands of employees are based without clear roles or responsibilities.

When asked about the union’s next steps, they indicated that anger is prevailing among all branches. They highlighted the hypocrisy of politicians who make promises during campaigns, such as Bola Tinubu, who pledged to end university strikes if elected. However, he has failed to address the reasons behind previous strikes or take any meaningful action.

The representative concluded that the union will convene a national executive council meeting, where decisions will be made public. If another strike is deemed necessary, sufficient time will be given to the government to respond.