Awka THE Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has threatened a renewed showdown with the federal government over alleged non- implementation of all components of the 2009 agreement.
The union had, in September, embarked on a one-week warning strike to prevail on government.
Rising from a meeting in Awka, yesterday, the Nsukka zone of ASUU said the Federal Government/ASUU agreement had four components namely, conditions of service, funding, university autonomy and academic freedom, all aimed at providing a benchmark for the improvement of the standard of teaching and learning, regretting that despite appeals by the union, only the salary component has been taken care of by government.
Coordinator of the Nsukka zone of ASUU, Dr. Moses Chendo, who read the decision of the union to newsmen after the meeting, said the impression being created was that ASUU was only interested in the salary increase, adding that the other components yet to be implemented were even more important to the union for the improvement in the standard of education in the country.
He said: “The essence of the 2009 agreement was indeed intended to help the universities in Nigeria to completely exist among the comity of universities in the world. Unfortunately, since the effective implementation date of July 1, 2009, governments in Nigeria have selected a section of the agreement and choosing to ignore critical components which are funding, earned allowances and 70 years retirement for academics in the professorial cadre.
“To put it clear, these three aspects touch on the fundamental aspects of the agreement that are not necessarily on the staff welfare and therefore the union is at loss as to why the government should delay in implementing them.
“We want to put on record that the union has done the much it could to ensure that these issues are resolved amicably and will not be held responsible in the event of further escalation if these issues are not resolved before the next ASUU NEC meeting.
“The action of government in not implementing an agreement she willingly entered into with the union amounts to criminal perfidy and erodes confidence and trust on the government.
“We therefore appeal to stakeholders, leaders of thought, traditional leaders, members of the national assembly to understand and support the union’s position and help her to get government of Nigeria to fully respect and implement the agreement for the sake of the university education and our children.”
SOURCE; VANGUARD
