By Saheed Ibrahim

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has clarified why the union has refrained from declaring a nationwide strike despite unresolved issues with the Federal Government.

Speaking on the state of education in a recent interview, the ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, described 2024 as a “missed opportunity” for the government to address longstanding agreements with the union.

He noted that the union had exercised patience by giving the government ample time to resolve issues, including withheld salaries, unpaid allowances, and funding for education.

“It is only that we want Nigerians to know and understand that ASUU does not just declare a nationwide strike but only when it has been pushed to the wall. Now, we have given the government a notice of strike and extended it many times just to give it more time and opportunity to address the issues so that we all can enjoy uninterrupted academic activities in our universities. But the government has not made good use of the opportunity. So, what do Nigerians want ASUU to do then?”

On the renegotiation committee set up by the Federal Government, Osodeke said that while the union had concluded discussions, the government had yet to implement agreed resolutions.

He highlighted unresolved issues such as unpaid earned allowances, the delayed release of revitalisation funds, and the continued reliance on the controversial IPPIS payment platform.

Osodeke criticised the government’s focus on student loans over grants, calling it a misplaced priority that burdens students instead of supporting them. He also rejected plans to replace TETFund with NELFUND, stressing the critical role TETFund plays in sustaining public tertiary institutions.

While expressing skepticism about improvements in 2025, Osodeke warned that if the government fails to act decisively by January, ASUU may have no choice but to declare a nationwide strike.

“So, what else can we do than what the government is always waiting for, which is strike? It is a pity that the government always wants workers to go on strike in Nigeria before attending to their demands. That has been the nature of our successive governments. But it is now left for Nigerians to tell the government to do the needful this early January. Otherwise, we will go ahead with our strike,” he said.