ASUU threatens strike over unpaid allowances, poor welfare

The Calabar Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities has warned of a looming “total, comprehensive and indefinite” strike in state-owned universities over the Federal Government’s non-implementation of agreements, unpaid allowances and continued neglect of staff welfare.

The ASUU Calabar Zone represents academic staff across public universities in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Cross River in parts of the South-East and South-South.

In a statement issued after a zonal meeting on Tuesday in Calabar signed by the Zonal Coordinator, Ikechuku Igwenyi, and chairpersons of ASUU branches within the component states, the group noted that the union could no longer guarantee industrial harmony in Abia State University, Akwa Ibom State University, Ebonyi State University, and University of Cross River State.

The union stressed that the affected institutions have failed to implement any component of the 2009 Federal Government agreement with ASUU except for partial implementation at the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS).

The statement reads partly, “The Calabar Zonal leadership of ASUU today, sadly, alerts all well-meaning Nigerians that it cannot guarantee industrial harmony and, therefore, should not be held responsible when the internal mechanisms collapse.

“This alarm is to sound out ABSU, AKSU, EBSU, and UNICROSS administrations, governing councils and relevant government authorities that the continued neglect of staff welfare and the breach of signed agreements will definitely push these universities in the zone to the precipice of a “ total, comprehensive and indefinite industrial action.”

The group noted that despite years of patience and exhibition of uncommon maturity by affected members, the university environment in these institutions has become untenable.

The union listed non-payment of earned academic allowances, non-implementation of the 25/35% wage award, consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage, and the recently signed agreement with the Federal Government on consolidated academic tools allowance and professorial allowance as key grievances.

It also decried persistent delays in salary payment, which it said had imposed “severe financial hardships” on members and undermined productivity.

The statement further accused university administrations of withholding third-party deductions, including check-off dues, cooperative savings, pension contributions, and union welfare dues.

“In UNICROSS for instance, 24 months union dues, welfare and Special Support Levy, ASUU UNICROSS deduction and National Housing Fund deduction since 2018 have been deducted and withheld by the university administration,” the statement read.

The union lamented that inflation have relegated university workers to the “ranks of the working poor,” with payment of rents, hospital bills, and children’s school fees now “uphill tasks.”

“We can no longer be expected to maintain industrial peace while our members cannot afford the basic costs and needs of living. This is not merely a dispute over figures; it is a fight for the survival of the university system,” the zonal leadership stated.

It called on the federal and state governments to intervene immediately to avert the crisis, saying traditional rulers, parents, students, and the public should hold the various state governments responsible if the strike begins.