May 10, 2024 - The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has firmly declined the N35,000 wage award from the government, insisting on a personally negotiated salary structure. Speaking at the inauguration of the new ASUU secretariat at the University of Ibadan, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, President of ASUU, emphasized the union's commitment to securing a fair deal through direct negotiations with President Bola Tinubu's administration.
During the event, Prof. Osodeke expressed dissatisfaction with the current wage proposal, describing it as insufficient and not reflective of the current economic realities facing university staff. “We are still insisting that there has to be a negotiated salary. What was offered is not what we agreed upon," he stated, underlining the union’s stance that the imposed wage does not meet their expectations or needs.
The inauguration of the ASUU’s new building, equipped with a secretariat and scholars’ chalets, highlighted the union’s capabilities and self-sufficiency, being entirely funded and constructed through the efforts and expertise of its members, without external financial support.
In his address, Prof. Osodeke also brought to light several unresolved issues with the federal government, including the renegotiation of their existing agreement, the payment of withheld salaries, the disbursement of earned academic allowances, and the release of Needs Assessment Funds.
Critiquing the government's preference for foreign consultants, Osodeke advocated for greater reliance on domestic expertise, especially from within the nation’s universities, to manage and implement projects across the country.
The event also included intellectual discussions on the impact of neo-liberal policies on Nigeria's education sector, emphasizing ASUU's pivotal role in advocating for an educational system that ensures all citizens are "free, educated, well fed, and healthy." Prof. Omotoye Olorode, a Professor of Botany, spoke extensively about the challenges and implications of these policies on national education and development.
The ceremony was marked by solidarity and a shared vision for advancing the quality and independence of education in Nigeria, with union members and university officials reiterating their commitment to continual advocacy and improvement of the academic landscape in Nigeria.
ASUU’s ongoing struggle for a fair wage underscores a broader resistance against diminishing working conditions and broader economic pressures faced by educational professionals in the country.
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