ASUU THREATENS NATIONWIDE STRIKE IN 2025 OVER UNADDRESSED DEMANDS

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a stern warning to the federal government, threatening to embark on a nationwide strike in January 2025 if its demands are not addressed. The union has been negotiating with the government for several months, but its concerns remain unaddressed.

At the heart of the dispute are several key demands that ASUU believes are essential to the proper functioning of the university system. Firstly, the union is seeking the release of the N300 billion NEEDS assessment fund for universities, which was approved by the government but has yet to be disbursed.

ASUU is also seeking the removal of university academics from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), which it claims does not suit the unique needs of the academic environment. The union argues that IPPIS has led to the irregular payment of salaries, deductions, and other benefits, causing undue hardship for its members.

Furthermore, ASUU is opposing the proposed removal of the education tax, which it believes would jeopardize tertiary education in Nigeria. The union has written to the Senate President, the Presidency, and other stakeholders, warning that the implementation of the tax reform bill would undermine the progress made in the education sector.

The ASUU president, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, has stated that the union will reconvene in January 2025 to decide on the next course of action if the government fails to address its concerns. Osodeke emphasized that ASUU members have run out of patience and are ready to take industrial action to press home their demands.

“We have been patient enough, and our patience has been taken for granted,” Osodeke said. “We are giving the government an ultimatum to address our demands. If they fail to do so, we will have no choice but to embark on a nationwide strike.”

The potential strike has sparked concerns among students, parents, and other stakeholders, who fear that it could lead to another prolonged disruption of academic activities. The last ASUU strike, which lasted for eight months in 2022, had a devastating impact on the university system, causing many students to lose an entire academic session.

As the clock ticks down to the January 2025 deadline, all eyes are on the government to see if it will take concrete steps to address ASUU’s demands and avert another potentially disastrous strike.