The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other university unions, including the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), are set to meet with the federal government’s newly reconstituted committee next week to renegotiate the 2009 agreement, which has been at the center of recurring disputes in Nigeria’s university system.
ASUU’s National President, Emmanuel Osodeke, confirmed the planned meeting in an interview in Abuja but did not disclose a specific date. He noted that the committee, reformed by the federal government in early October, has been tasked with resolving longstanding issues within a three-month timeframe. This development follows recent steps by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address grievances and prevent another round of industrial action by university unions.
Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing ASUU’s concerns and to implementing structural reforms. She reassured stakeholders during a medical outreach in Isuochi, Abia State, that the government is determined to settle the unresolved issues between the university staff unions and the government, as part of broader economic reforms aimed at stabilizing the economy.
ASUU has recently issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government, listing demands including the settlement of four months’ salary arrears from the 2020 strike, a transition from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to the University Transparency and Accountability System (UTAS), and the payment of outstanding earned allowances. Osodeke pointed out that these long-standing issues continue to create friction between the union and the government.
As the committee’s work unfolds, both sides are expected to engage in comprehensive discussions to resolve the issues. Minister Onyejeocha expressed optimism, noting that recent engagements with ASUU would result in lasting solutions to these pressing concerns.
