The National Association of Nigerian Students has called on the Federal Government to meet with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities regarding the recent strike threat.
The student body noted that a strike was not advisable at this point.
NANS Senate President, Akinteye Babatunde made this known in an interview with our PUNCH NG correspondent in Abuja following a fresh 14-day ultimatum issued by ASUU on Wednesday over failed negotiations with the Federal Government.
“We are asking the Federal Government to meet with ASUU and discuss with them because ASUU strike at this point is not advisable,” Akinteye said.
ASUU gave the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to resolve several lingering issues. ASUU is seeking the conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021, as well as the release of withheld salaries due to the 2022 strike action.
Additionally, ASUU is demanding the release of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, and the payment of outstanding third-party deductions such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions.
The union is also seeking funding for the revitalization of public universities, partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget, and the payment of Earned Academic Allowances partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget.
Other issues include the proliferation of universities by federal and state governments, the implementation of the reports of visitation panels to universities, the reversal of the illegal dissolution of Governing Councils, and the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution as a replacement for IPPIS.
