OAU Lecturers Protest Non-Implementation of 2009 Agreement by FG
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) protested the Federal Government's failure to implement a 2009 agreement.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) held a peaceful protest on Tuesday, expressing dismay over the Federal Government’s continued refusal to implement the 2009 agreement with the union.
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Led by the OAU branch chairman, Anthony Odiwe, the protest saw union members carrying placards with inscriptions such as “IPPIS is a scam,” “Stop Brain Drain,” “Give proper remuneration to lecturers,” and “A nation that values education is a nation that develops.”
Mr. Odiwe emphasized the protest aimed to draw attention to the government's neglect of the educational sector since 2009. He highlighted the urgent need for funding public universities based on the FGN—ASUU Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) of 2012 and 2013, the Memorandum of Action (MoA) of 2017, renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, and the release of unpaid salaries for members on sabbatical.
Key demands include:
- Payment of Promotion Arrears and Earned Academic Allowance: The union insists on the settlement of these financial obligations.
- Implementation of Visitation Panel Reports: ASUU calls for action on the findings and recommendations of these panels.
- Addressing Illegal Dissolution of Governing Councils: The union seeks rectification of such actions in federal and state institutions.
- Implementation of UTAS over IPPIS: ASUU advocates for the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) to replace the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
Mr. Odiwe noted the government’s refusal to partially implement the agreement led to the 2022 strike. "We called off the strike for the sake of the system and our students, but the government responded by punishing us. Our seven-month salary was withheld; they claimed to have paid four months’ salary, but we only received two months’ worth. Even the third-party deductions removed from our salaries have not been remitted to date," he stated.
The union urged religious leaders, traditional rulers, and stakeholders to appeal to President Bola Tinubu for the implementation of the agreement. Adeola Egbedokun, the coordinator of the Akure Zone of ASUU, lamented the union’s unsuccessful attempts to meet with the Ministers of Education and Labour. He reiterated ASUU’s readiness for dialogue with the Federal Government.
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