ASUU Accuses Federal Government of Insensitivity Over Unfulfilled Agreements
The Yola Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the Federal Government of insensitivity due to its failure to implement long-standing agreements affecting public universities.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
The Yola Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has voiced strong accusations against the Federal Government for its insensitivity regarding the failure to implement long-standing agreements. This zone, which encompasses six branches including Modibbo Adama University Yola, University of Maiduguri, Federal University Gashua, Taraba State University Jalingo, Adamawa State University Mubi, and Yobe State University Damaturu, criticized the government's repeated failure to honor agreements made over several years.
In a statement released on October 2, 2024, by the ASUU Yola Zonal Chairman, Dani Mamman, the union expressed its frustration over the government's continual reneging on commitments. ASUU urged the Federal Government to prioritize the future of Nigerian students by implementing, particularly, the agreement reached in 2022, which led to the suspension of a previous strike.
The union highlighted that the government's inability to fulfill various memoranda of understanding and action from 2013 to 2022 has significantly hindered the establishment of industrial harmony in public universities. It criticized the government for its lack of action, stating that it has “gone into slumber,” reflecting a blatant insensitivity to the challenges faced by Nigerian students.
Despite issuing a 21-day ultimatum on August 21, 2024, for the resolution of these issues, ASUU noted that no significant progress has been made, with government representatives more focused on allowances than actionable solutions.
ASUU warned that if the additional two-week ultimatum, given last week, passes without a satisfactory response from the government, the union’s members will be compelled to withdraw their services. The union made it clear that it should not be held accountable for any ensuing breakdown in industrial harmony, attributing it to the government’s insensitivity, insincerity, and time-buying tactics.
The statement also questioned the government's priorities, arguing that if it can allocate billions of naira for the renovation of the vice president's residence and procure luxury vehicles for lawmakers, it should similarly invest in the nation’s universities, which are instrumental in producing leaders.
This ongoing dispute highlights the urgent need for the Federal Government to address the grievances of the ASUU and restore harmony in Nigeria's public universities.
