The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared its readiness to confront the Federal Government if its expectations are not met in 2025.

ASUU has accused the Federal Government of neglecting university education in the country, citing continued disregard for university teachers throughout 2024 as a glaring case of abandonment.

The issues raised by ASUU remain unresolved, highlighting the government?s failure to act, the Chairman of ASUU, University of Ibadan chapter, Professor Ayo Akinwole, said in a statement on Wednesday.

He stated that the uninterrupted 2024 academic calendar was due to sacrifices made by the union and not the federal government. Despite this, issues previously tabled before the government remain unresolved.

Prof. Akinwole criticised the Federal Government?s introduction of an 18-year age criterion for university admission and urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to renegotiate with ASUU and sign the Nimi-Briggs-led renegotiated draft agreement.

The professor accused the government of neglecting key issues such as: the non-provision of funding for the revitalisation of public universities as outlined in the FGN-ASUU MoU of 2012, 2013, and the MoA of 2017; non-release of three and a half months of withheld salaries; non-release of third-party deductions, including scheduled loan repayments, personal savings for retirement schemes, and cooperative contributions; pending arrears of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), proliferation of public universities without adequate funding; non-implementation of reports from visitation panels; failure to replace IPPI, and non-renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement.

?These pending issues remain unresolved in 2024 and will define the relationship between our union and the Federal Government in 2025. Having reviewed the state of education in Nigeria in 2024, it is time to set an agenda for 2025,? Akinwole said.

He further criticised the government?s inaction in addressing challenges in the education sector, warning that the union might resort to a struggle in 2025 if these issues remain unaddressed, potentially leading to a crisis.

The ASUU chairman also stressed the need for a complete overhaul of infrastructure in the nation?s tertiary education sector and advocated for better remuneration for university staff to attract qualified professionals.

?The welfare of workers in the education sector and Nigerian workers is paramount, considering the state of the national economy and high cost of living, which has eroded the conditions of service of our members,? the statement read.

Akinwole called for the swift review and signing of the Nimi-Briggs-led renegotiated draft agreement, arguing that university lecturers? salaries should be restored to the African average, as stipulated in the 2009 Agreement.

?The professorial salary pegged at $3,000 in 2009 now amounts to a paltry $200 due to the depreciation of the Nigerian Naira against the US dollar,? he said.

He also condemned the Federal Government?s attack on TETFund and urged the rejection of policies that commodify university education. Instead, he advocated for Nigeria to emulate countries like Germany, where education is free and adequately funded.

Prof. Akinwole further highlighted the inadequacy of budgetary allocations to the education sector, which still falls short of the globally accepted benchmark of 15 to 20 per cent. (The Guardian)

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