ASUU Warns Over Non-Implementation of Agreements

The refusal of the Federal Government to fully implement the terms of the agreement reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) since 2009 is provoking another round of crisis in the nation's university system, ASUU has said.

The National President of the union, Professor Ukachukwu Awuzie, said in a press conference at the end of ASUU's National Executive Council meeting at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria Monday that the major cause of ASUU's showdown with the government and protracted strike actions had always been the refusal of government to implement valid agreements entered into with the union.

The union therefore warned that if the current National Assembly fails to enact the required laws that would give effect to the major areas of the agreements, the nation should not hold ASUU responsible for the consequences that would follow. Professor Awuzie lamented government's failure to pay earned/responsibility allowances to members, noting that only the salary component of the agreement was being implemented.

He said the implementation had not been uniform with state universities as only eight state universities are implementing the agreement.

On the 70 years retirement age for academic staff in the professorial cadre, the ASUU National President said; "ASUU NEC wishes to alert the country to the fact that two years after the commencement of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, government has failed, refused and neglected to enact laws that will give effect to certain major areas of the agreement that need legislation for their implementation and enforcement."