The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a two-week ultimatum to the administration of President Bola Tinubu, warning of a potential strike if withheld salaries for public university lecturers are not promptly paid.
ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s decision to only pay four out of seven-and-a-half months’ worth of salaries from 2022.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program, Osodeke criticized the perceived injustice of the situation, emphasizing that universities across Nigeria have diligently covered the academic workload during the period of strike action in 2022.
He noted that despite the sacrifices made by faculty members, including forgoing vacations and leave, a significant portion of their owed salaries remains unpaid.
According to Channels Television, Osodeke highlighted the current academic calendar, indicating that universities are already operating in the 2023/2024 academic year, with preparations underway for the subsequent academic session.
He stressed that the workload from the period of strike action has been successfully managed and completed by faculty members, underscoring their commitment to fulfilling their professional duties.
The ASUU president revealed that the ultimatum, which commenced on May 13, 2024, serves as a deadline for the government to address the issue of unpaid salaries.
Failure to meet this deadline could lead to a nationwide strike affecting public universities across the country.
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