I’ve made the decision to outline and discuss the main demands made by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, which sparked the continuing strike that started on February 14,2022.
The only demands with monetary ramifications are three. Only two, though, have anything to do with professors.
The payment of the Revitalization Fund, the Earned Academic Allowance, and the payment of salary withheld are not negotiable. Universities will receive the disbursement of the revitalization fund.
Major requirements
The demand for the implementation of the University Transparency Accountability System, or UTAS, is one of the key demands.
After ASUU received approval from the government to create an alternative system to the IPPIS, UTAS was created.
ASUU asserts that the IPPIS fails to acknowledge some NUS idiosyncrasies ( Nigerian University System). IPPIS does not acknowledge the fact that university lecturers are entitled to benefits like earned allowances and sabbatical allowances, among others.
At the height of the ASUU strike of 2020, the minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige told ASUU that FG had agreed for the union to develop an alternate payment platform. UTAS was developed and according to plans, will be under the control of the NUC.
Unfortunately, the government is yet to accept UTAS despite the numerous tests conducted by NITDA. The government has continued to insist that UTAS failed integrity tests conducted by NITDA
Release of the white paper of visitation panels to Universities.
The Federal Government constituted a panel to look into the issues at various tertiary institutions in the country. It is believed that the report will help to know and understand the issues of NUS
Till now, the Federal Government has refused to release the report of the visitation panel. If released, the report may indict some VCs, officials among others
Proliferation of Universities.
Another concern of ASUU is the proliferation of universities by the government. According to ASUU, the government has no business establishing new universities if it can’t fund the existing universities.
ASUU wants to stop lawmakers who continue to present bills to create universities. According to a report by The PUNCH, over 186 bills were presented by the 9th NASS in four years for the creation of new universities. This is as existing universities remain underfunded.
Finally, the Renegotiation of the 2009 agreement. The truth is that if the president fails to sign the new agreement that has been drawn up, the union may not resume. Truth is that university lecturers have been on the same salary scheme since 2009. Despite rising inflation.
#ASUUStrikeUpdate
I have decided to list and explain the major demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities which led to the ongoing strike which commenced on February 14,2022.
Please help Retweet so that Nigerians can get informed. #Thread— Deborah Tolu-Kolawole GenZ (@DeborahToluwase) July 12, 2022
