Since President Bola Tinubu’s administration took office in May 2023, the Federal Government, according to Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has not implemented all of the agreements it made with organised labour, particularly with ASUU.
In an interactive session with reporters this past week at the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna, the capital of Niger State, he made this statement.
He also mentioned that members of the body’s National Executive Council (NEC) are currently conducting a nationwide consultation with union branch members in order to decide on the next course of action following the NEC meeting later this month.
Professor Osodeke expressed regret that not a dime had been provided to union members despite the gentlemen agreement between the union and the federal government, thereby causing needless hardship for their families.
Asked if promises made by the Federal Government had been fulfilled, Osodeke said: “Well, none has been implemented. On the issue of wage award and the issue of seven and half salary arrears, I can tell you that nothing has been implemented. In fact, as I am talking to you now, none of our members has been paid.”
Regarding the prospect of using industrial action to hammer home their demands, ASUU boss stated that the association will bring up all of the suggestions made during its nationwide consultations at the NEC meeting and take appropriate action.
Speaking on the association’s next line of action, Professor Osodeke said, “That is why we have come to see our members and we are seeking their views about the next line of action which we are taking to our NEC meeting in February ( this month). And at the NEC meeting we are going to take a decision”, he noted.
Also in a separate remark, the branch Chairman, ASUU, FUTMinna Prof. Gbolahan Bolarin, described the visit of Professor Osodeke and his entourage to the University as encouraging and assured him of his members’ unflinching support to achieve the set objective.