The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) recently organized a protest against the federal government’s failure to address critical issues affecting Nigerian public universities.
The protest began at the ASUU secretariat at ABU and included a march around the university campus, culminating at the Senate building, on Friday.
During the demonstration, union members held placards with messages such as “Release Funds for Revitalization of Public Universities Now”, “ASUU-ABU Says No to Underfunding of Public Universities,” and “TETFUND Should Complement, Not Replace, Adequate and Regular Budgetary Allocation.”
In a statement following the protest, ASUU-ABU Chairman Comrade Haruna Mohammed Jibril Condemns the government for its insincerity and neglect, which he said has worsened the living and working conditions of academic staff.
He reiterated the union’s demands, which include the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, funding for the revitalization of public universities, and the payment of outstanding entitlements.
“The Federal Government has persistently refused to pay the outstanding three-and-a-half months’ withheld salary for work already completed by our members,” Jibril stated.
He also highlighted that many academic staff at ABU, Zaria have been denied promotional and consequential salary adjustment arrears.
Jibril called on the federal government to urgently release the withheld salaries of staff affected by the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), whether they were on sabbatical at other federal universities or for related reasons.
