In less than 24 hours after the Federal Government announced the reopening of tertiary institutions and Unity Colleges across Nigeria, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said its industrial action remains despite the announcement.
The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu had on Monday in Abuja, announced the Federal Government’s decision to allow schools across the country to reopen after several months of closure occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.
However, the National President of ASUU, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, told the Federal Government and parents that lecturers in public universities are still on strike over the unmet demands of the union.
While reacting to reopening of universities, Ogunyemi said, “We did not close the universities. It is the right of the government to reopen the universities. It is also the right of lecturers to withhold their services.”
He said among the demands are the re-negotiation of 2009 FNG/ASUU agreement, outstanding Earned Academic Allowances, visitation panels to federal universities, proliferation of state universities and revitalization fund for universities.
Ogunyemi disclosed that the union has consistently battle government to provide funds to revamp the existing universities to make it compete with other top universities in the World.
Speaking specifically on Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), Ogunyemi said the platform has failed to address what the Federal Government hope it will solve, stating rather, it has created another avenue for government officials to milk the country.
