- The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) recently took to the streets in protest against the federal government’s failure to address critical issues facing Nigerian public universities.
Starting their demonstration from the ASUU secretariat at ABU, the members of the union marched through the campus, making a notable stop at the Senate building. ASUU members held up signs with messages such as: “Allocate Funds Now to Revitalize Public Universities!”, “ASUU-ABU Stands Against Underfunding of Public Universities”, and “TETFUND Should Supplement, Not Replace, Adequate and Regular Budgetary Allocation.”
Following the protest, Comrade Haruna Mohammed Jibril, Chairman of ASUU-ABU, expressed strong criticism toward the government, accusing it of dishonesty and neglect that exacerbates the living and working conditions of academic staff. He emphasized the union’s demands, which include renegotiating the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement to secure funding for the revitalization of public universities, and ensuring the settlement of outstanding entitlements.
Jibril stated, “The Federal Government has continuously withheld three-and-a-half months’ worth of salaries for work that our members have already completed.”
He further pointed out, “In addition, many academic staff members at ABU, Zaria have not received overdue salary adjustments and promotional arrears. It is imperative that the federal government promptly releases the withheld salaries of staff affected by the implementation of IPPIS, whether they were on sabbatical at other federal universities or due to similar reasons.”
Victoria Ibiama
