The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the Federal Government of failing to fulfill its promises, declaring that the patience of Nigerian lecturers has run out.
Chairperson of the Union at the Federal University Dutse (FUD), Comrade Salim Ahmad, made the statement on Monday while addressing members during a peaceful rally and protest held on the university campus.
The demonstration commenced at the Sir Nuhu Muhammad Sanusi Auditorium and terminated at the Senate Building, with lecturers carrying placards bearing various inscriptions such as “Stop jeopardizing the future of Nigerian Universities,” “FG should learn to respect agreements,” “Our take-home cannot take us home,” “Pay lecturers African average salary,” and “We don’t need your loan.”
Speaking during the protest, Comrade Ahmad said the aim of the rally was to pressurize the Federal Government to address the long-standing demands of the union.
“We have a lot of pending issues which the Federal Government has refused to pay attention to, including the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, signing of the Prof. Nimi Briggs (Yayele)-led committee’s report, payment of third-party deductions, and the settlement of three and a half months’ withheld salaries, among others,” he stated.
He lamented that despite repeated appeals, the government had remained unresponsive to the plight of university lecturers.
“We have been waiting for the government to do the needful, but still nothing has been done. Enough is enough. Our patience is now over,” Ahmad declared.
The union therefore urged the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, meet its demands in order to safeguard the future of the nation’s universities and students.
