By Our Reporter 

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has given the Federal Government a fresh 14-day ultimatum to resolve outstanding issues affecting university lecturers.

This latest ultimatum issued on Wednesday, follows the expiration of an earlier 21-day ultimatum.

ASUU demands:

– Conclusion of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement renegotiation

– Payment of withheld salaries due to the 2022 eight-month strike

– Release of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments

– Payment of outstanding third-party deductions

– Funding for public universities’ revitalization

– Payment of Earned Academic Allowances

In a statement on Wednesday, ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke expressed frustration with the government’s delay tactics, warning that the union shouldn’t be blamed for any resulting industrial disharmony.

Osodeke noted that the actions of the federal government were fueling a crisis in the public university system.

According to the statement: “In view of the foregoing, ASUU resolves to give the Nigerian Government another 14 days, in addition to the earlier 21 days, beginning from Monday, September 23, 2024, during which all the lingering issues must have been concretely addressed to the satisfaction of the membership of the union.

“The union should not be held responsible for any industrial disharmony that arises from the government’s failure to seize the new opportunity offered by ASUU to nip the looming crisis in the bud.”

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.