ASUU THREATENS INDEFINITE INDUSTRIAL ACTION OVER NON-FULFILLMENT OF THE 2019 AGREEMENT WITH FG

By Ikenna Nwokedi

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Owerri Zone has warned the Federal Government that it will recommence its suspended industrial action over the breach in fulfillment of its 2019 agreement it entered with the Union.

The Owerri Zone of ASUU in a press conference on Monday, 13th December 2021 held at the ASUU Secretariat, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and addressed by the Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Uzo Onyebinama disclosed that the Federal Government has completely reneged on the agreements, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Memorandum of Action (MoA) it entered with the Union.

Onyebinama opined that efforts by the union to engage the agents of the government to engage the Federal Government to respond by fulfilling it’s obligation has been unproductive. Onyebinama said that the union is on the verge of embarking on an indefinite industrial action which will truncate teaching and research activities in public universities nationwide. He also disclosed that some of its members were still owed salary arrears of up to 10 months and called for the deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) for the payment of its members.

In a release titled, “No light at the end of the tunnel”, and made available to the media, it reads: “We are saddened that having reached the end of the tunnel, we couldn’t find any light. True to their character, the agents of the Federal Government of Nigeria have reneged from implementing the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement. The magnanimity of the Academic Staff Union of Universities that resulted in various MoUs and MoAs arising from the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement has been spurned by the Federal Government. As we speak, the Federal Government is still in arrears of major components of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, that includes funding for the revitalization of public universities, earned academic allowances and the renegotiation of 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement.

“The situation has been compounded by the introduction of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), and the attendant consequences of mutilated salaries, promotion arrears and non-resolution of the more favoured Universities Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS). We once again alert Nigerians, that unless the federal government strives to sincerely resolve these issues, there will be no rest for us all. There will be no more MoUs or MoAs. When the macabre dance begins, there will be no stopping it until everything is fully implemented. The insincerity of the federal government is not just beyond understanding, it is beyond tolerance”, the statement read.

The press release was signed by representatives of Universities under the Owerri Zone – Comrade Onyebinama, Zonal Coordinator, Owerri Zone; Comrade Okey Aniebo, Chairperson ASUU, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam; Comrade Christopher Echerobia, Chairperson ASUU, Federal University of Science and Technology (FUTO), Owerri; Comrade Augustine Ejiogu, Chairperson ASUU, Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri; Comrade Chike Ugwuene, Chairperson ASUU, (MOUAU) and Comrade Stephen Ufoaroh, Chairperson ASUU, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

Responding to questions posed by the press, the immediate past chairperson ASUU, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Comrade Dennis Aribodor stated that education is the right of every citizen of the country but the federal government is shying away from its responsibility by actions which has undermined public education in Nigeria. Comrade Aribodor highlighted that poor budgetary allocations to education and questionable policies have lowered the education standard in the country.

Other members at the press conference on Monday were the immediate past Chairperson of ASUU MOUAU, Comrade Chinyere Echendu and the immediate past Chairperson ASUU, COOU, Comrade Emeka Nwabunnia.