The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria branch has accused the Federal Government of Nigeria of insincerity and neglect, leading to a worsening of living and working conditions for academic staff.
Speaking at a protest rally organized by the branch on Friday, the Chairman, Comrade Haruna Mohammed Jibril, outlined the union’s key demands. These include the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, funding for the revitalization of public universities, and the payment of outstanding entitlements.
Comrade Jibril stated that the Federal Government has refused to renegotiate the 2009 agreement, even though it has been 15 years since it was signed. He noted that a renegotiation process was initiated in 2017 but stalled due to disagreements, particularly over the reintroduction of an Education Bank that would lead to exorbitant tuition fees for students.
Despite progress made in subsequent renegotiations, the government has refused to sign the draft agreement, leaving lecturers on the same salary regime since 2009. The union also criticized the government’s failure to adequately fund Nigerian universities, with the bulk of funding coming from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), an intervention agency.
In the aftermath of the 2022 struggle, the Federal Government claimed to have budgeted 170 billion naira (approximately $415 million) in the 2023 budget for the university system. However, the ASUU/ABU branch believes this is insufficient and calls on the public to hold the government accountable if a strike occurs.
The union also reiterated its demand for the reinstatement of Governing Councils whose tenures have not yet expired and the reconstitution of those whose tenures have lapsed.
According to the ASUU, ABU is currently facing severe financial challenges exacerbated by underfunding and exorbitant electricity tariffs across the country. These tariffs have inflated the university’s expenses to approximately 10 million naira (around $24,000) per day, straining its financial resources and leading to disruptions in electricity supply and essential municipal services.
The ASUU/ABU branch has called on the Federal Government to prioritize the reduction of electricity tariffs as a crucial step in supporting the education sector and promoting sustainable development nationwide.