The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, in a statement released by the Zonal Coordinator of the Ibadan Zone, Professor Ade Adejumo, stated that it is not ready to suspend its ongoing strike until government pays outstanding three-to-seven months withheld salaries.
The Union also wants the Federal Government to approve the University Transparency and Accountability Solutions (UTAS) among other demands.
In the statement, ASUU faulted the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, saying he lied that government was not owing lecturers any salary on a TV broadcast.
As ASUU stated their grievances, they said the federal government agencies have been footdragging on early resolution of the ongoing strike anchored on implementation of outstanding components of 2009 FG-ASUU agreement, revitalisation funding of Universities, unpaid earned academic allowances and renegotiation of the agreement for upward review of salaries of lecturers to conform with contemporary reality.
The union stated, “It should be noted that ASUU went on strike as a result of the combination of three inter-related factors: Nigerian governments’ increasing anti-labour policies and the history of sabotage in the education sector and the government’s refusal to honour the agreement reached with the union for revitalisation of public sector universities.”
“For the benefit of Nigerians, ASUU wishes to state that in sharp contrast to President Buhari’s directive on University Transparency and Accountability Solutions (UTAS), the respective government agencies involved are deliberately delaying its endorsement for implementation.”
“The ministries involved may wish to know that the inhumane treatment that ASUU is being subjected to has further emboldened us to rescue the soul of Nigeria’s public University education.”
The Union stated that the ongoing strike would not be called off until government proactively responded to the demands of the union and made knowledge industry a priority.
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