Asuu Accuses FG Of Neglect Over Members’ Welfare

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Branch has accused the Federal Government of insincerity and neglect, worsening the living and working conditions of academic staff.
Speaking at a protest rally organised by the branch at the weekend, the Chairman, Comrade Haruna Mohammed Jibril, said the union demands include, the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, funding for public University revitalisation, and payment of outstanding entitlements.
“The Federal Government has refused to renegotiate the ASUU/FGN 2009 agreement fifteen years after it was signed. It would be recalled that, owing to the Union’s persistent call for the review of the 2009 Agreement among other demands led the Federal Government to set up the Wale Babalakin-led Joint Renegotiation Committee in 2017.”
For irreconcilable reasons, especially due to Wale-Babalakin’s insistence on the re-introduction of the Education Bank which would lead to the introduction of exorbitant tuition fees for students, the process was stalled for over two years”
Comrade Haruna Mohammed Jibril said despite progress made in renegotiations, the government has refused to sign the draft agreement, leaving lecturers on the same salary regime since 2009.
Furthermore, the Government has left the Nigerian universities poorly funded.
Allowing its infrastructural and staff development to depond on the little funds coming from Tetfund, which was meant to be an intervention agency rather than the main source of funding.
ASUU/ABU branch urges the public to hold the federal government responsible, if a strike occurs and calls for support from parents, students, and stakeholders in their struggle for better university funding and conditions.