ASUU Rejects Minister’s Claim Over Proposal To FG

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has dismissed claims by the Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, that the union submitted a position proposal currently being considered by the Federal Government.

ASUU, through its Lagos Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Adesola Nassir, described the minister’s statement as false and misleading. Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos attended by representatives from seven universities in the zone, Nassir insisted that the union had no such proposal before the government.

He said it was mischievous for the minister to label a government document as ASUU’s proposal, adding that government officials lacked the mandate to tamper with the renegotiated agreement led by Prof. Yayale Ahmed. Nassir noted that the document was the outcome of eight years of painstaking negotiation involving four different chairpersons.

“Our members are tired of this rhetoric. Any attempt to rubbish years of negotiation and entrench poverty in our ranks will be met with resistance,” he warned.

The ASUU leader accused the government of worsening the plight of university lecturers by failing to implement the 2009 renegotiated agreement, which has left staff and students in hardship. He said members were being owed promotion arrears, wage awards, palliatives, and third-party deductions under the IPPIS system.

Nassir reminded the government that ASUU’s right to strike is recognized by labour laws and cautioned that the union would not hesitate to act if left with no option.

On the proposed Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), he dismissed the initiative as tokenism, saying loans could not replace a living wage.

He urged Nigerians to intervene and prevail on the government to resolve outstanding issues to avoid another industrial action that could disrupt the academic calendar.