ASUU: Varsities are rotting… our demands are in students’ interest

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called for the support of students, saying its protracted tussle with the federal government is only in their interest.

The union had in March declared an indefinite strike, citing the federal government’s failure to meet its demands.

The industrial action was on the back of  disagreement with the government over issues on revitalization of universities and earned academic allowance.

Other issues raised by the union had included the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) as well as funding of universities.

In a statement via its Twitter page on Monday, ASUU reiterated the motives behinds the continued strike action, calling on students to cooperate towards addressing the “rot and decay” in the system.

“Students who are our children and partners in progress should show understanding, what we are asking from the government are in their interest and the interest of the nation,” the union wrote.

“…good hostel accommodation, good classroom blocks that can engender effective learning, labs where cutting edge research can be carried out and offices that drive quality university education.

“What we’re asking are not baseless, but things that in 2012, the government conducted during a needs assessment survey and found out there is widespread rot and decay in the university system.”

"Students who are our children and partners in progress should show understanding, what we are asking from the government are in their interest and the interest of the nation, good hostel accommodation, good classroom blocks that can engender effective learning,……..#asuu

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— Official_ASUU (@ASUUNGR) August 24, 2020

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“So what we are asking of the government are not baseless things, but those things that in 2012, the government conducted during a needs assessment survey and found out that there is widespread rot and decay in the university system."#asuu

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— Official_ASUU (@ASUUNGR) August 24, 2020

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Recently, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) had threatened strike action.

Citing issues regarding the IPPIS payroll software and non-payment of arrears in earned allowance, the two unions had said they could proceed on the action immediately the universities reopen.

“We’ve again cried out to the general public with a view to inviting stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the government to correct the anomaly of IPPIS,” the unions jointly said.

“If by the time schools are asked to reopen and the needful is not done, it means hope is lost and the avoidable industrial conflict becomes inevitable. This is what we seek to avert.”