ASUU issues President Tinubu a two-week ultimatum to reinstate dissolved university governing councils, citing illegality and operational issues. The demand includes reinstating council members whose tenure hasn't lapsed and reconstituting those expired. ASUU criticizes diversion of TETFund resources and unresolved salary payment issues, setting a tense standoff with the government.
In response to President Bola Tinubu's dissolution of Nigerian university governing councils last June, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a fresh ultimatum. ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke condemned the dissolution as illegal and called for immediate reinstatement of affected councils. ASUU warned of potential industrial action if the issue remains unresolved.
The dissolution, affecting public institutions including polytechnics and colleges of education, has left universities without proper governance structures for close to a year. ASUU decried the absence of governing councils, labeling it a catalyst for illegal activities within the Nigerian university system.
ASUU demanded reinstatement of councils whose tenure hadn't elapsed and reconstitution of those with elapsed tenures. The union threatened decisive action if the matter isn't addressed within two weeks.
Additionally, ASUU accused the government of diverting funds from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to the Students’ Education Loan Scheme, contrary to the fund's intended purpose. This diversion, ASUU argued, undermines the impact of TETFund's intervention in tertiary education.
The union also highlighted ongoing issues, including the non-renegotiation of the 2009 agreement with the government, underfunding of universities, and resistance to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) for salary payments.
ASUU urged the government to initiate the review and signing of the Nimi Briggs-led renegotiated draft agreement as a gesture of goodwill. The union accused the former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, of stalling the renegotiation process.
Furthermore, ASUU reiterated its rejection of the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standard (CCMAS) developed by the National Universities Commission (NUC), asserting that university senates should retain authority over academic programs and degrees.
The union condemned the proliferation of universities without adequate funding plans and called for a halt to further expansion, emphasizing the need for quality over quantity in higher education.
ASUU's ultimatum to President Tinubu underscores the urgent need to address governance issues in Nigerian universities, signaling potential challenges ahead if the demands remain unmet.
