ASUU Warns Against Political Interference In Academic Affairs Following Tinubu Remarks

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nsukka Zone, has expressed disappointment over the lack of fulfillment of government promises, dampening their mood amid President Bola Tinubu’s one-year anniversary in office.

ASUU’s Zonal Coordinator, Raphael Amokaha, voiced these concerns during a press briefing at Benue State University, Makurdi. He lamented the government’s failure to renegotiate the 2009 Federal Government/ASUU agreement, citing issues such as insufficient university funding, infringement on university autonomy, non-payment of academic allowances, and withheld salaries spanning four months.

Although acknowledging the President’s recent commitment to review the appointment of university governing councils, ASUU cautioned against perceiving this action as political favoritism. Amokaha stressed the importance of appointing individuals with significant experience in university administration to these councils, highlighting the unsuitability of dissolving or reconstituting them without due propriety.

ASUU also urged for the immediate signing and implementation of the renegotiated 2009 agreement, considering the prevailing hyperinflation in the country. Furthermore, they demanded the prompt payment of salaries withheld for eight months, emphasizing the diminished value of these salaries due to inflation.

In essence, ASUU called for a more conscientious approach to governance, emphasizing the need for integrity and expertise in university governance appointments, while urging the government to fulfill its commitments to the academic community.

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