By Barnabas Augustine
University staff in Nigeria have issued a final warning to the government to address long-standing grievances or face industrial action.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced a 14-day ultimatum for the Federal Government to resolve several outstanding issues, including the renegotiation of a 2009 agreement and the release of withheld salaries.
In a statement released on Wednesday, ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke expressed frustration with the government's lack of progress in addressing these matters. He warned that the ongoing crisis in the public university system could escalate if the government fails to act.
Among the union's demands are the implementation of a 2021 draft agreement to renegotiate the 2009 agreement, the payment of unpaid salaries for staff affected by a previous strike, and the release of withheld salaries due to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
ASUU is also seeking funding for the revitalisation of public universities, the payment of earned academic allowances, and the reversal of the illegal dissolution of university governing councils.
The union has urged the government to seize this opportunity to avoid further disruptions to the academic calendar.