ASUU Delivers Ultimatum to Federal Government Over Salary Implementation
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a stern four-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the immediate commencement of payments under a newly approved salary structure for university lecturers nationwide. The union warns of a "strong response" should the government fail to comply within the stipulated timeframe.
Union President Speaks Out
The decisive declaration was made on Thursday by ASUU President, Professor Christopher Piwuna, during a public lecture held at Sa’adu Zungur University's Yuli Campus in Bauchi. Piwuna emphasized that the government has a mere four days, starting from the day of his address, to initiate payments according to the new salary arrangement, which was painstakingly agreed upon after protracted negotiations between both parties.
“We have issued a four-day ultimatum from today to the Federal Government to begin the payment of the newly approved salary structure. Failure to comply will attract a strong response from the union,” Professor Piwuna stated unequivocally.
Addressing Long-Standing Grievances
Professor Piwuna further elaborated that this demand is integral to ASUU's overarching mission to significantly improve the welfare of university lecturers. He highlighted that the persistently poor remuneration has been a critical factor contributing to a severe brain drain in the academic sector and a worrying decline in the standards of Nigeria’s higher education system.
The ASUU president also expressed frustration over the government's historical inconsistency in honoring agreements. He noted that despite numerous accords reached in the past, their implementation has frequently been sporadic or entirely neglected, often leading to recurring industrial disputes and disruptive strikes across the nation's tertiary institutions.