UNILORIN ASUU urges FG to rescue education from collapse

Jul 2, 2024 - 15:12

UNILORIN ASUU urges FG to rescue education from collapse

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ilorin Chapter, has joined its counterparts all over the country to urge the Federal Government to urgently attend to the Union’s requests, in order to rescue the country’s education system from collapse.

Its Chairman, Dr Alex Akanmu, made the call last Tuesday (June 25, 2024) while addressing members of the Chapter at the Union’s Secretariat.

Dr Akanmu listed the payment of the outstanding balance of the withheld three-and-half months ASUU members’ salaries by the Federal Government as part of their demands, adding that the continuous neglect and near collapse of the nation’s education system has necessitated the call for action to address the matter.

The ASUU Chairman said that the situation has left the Union with no other option than to activate its ‘rescue mission cause’ as the situation is now getting worse by the day.

Other demands, according to Dr Akanmu, include the implementation of the FGN-ASUU renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, mainstreaming of earned academic allowance, rejection of Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), reconstitution of University governing councils, and an urgent intervention to rescue the country’s economy, among others.

He said that the situation has also led to the exodus of scholars from the universities and low morale of the workforce, adding that these have all culminated in diminishing the status of tertiary education in the country.

The Chairman also bemoaned the failure of the government to fulfill the promises made in 2022 upon which the then industrial action was called off. The Union urged the government to implementation the 2009 renegotiated agreement, especially the late Nimo Briggs report, which amongst other things made case for an improved welfare package for its members, revitalisation of institutions, as well as proper funding and stoppage of proliferation of institutions without structure to support them.

Highlights of the briefing included a peaceful demonstration by the ASUU members around the campus.