The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a stern warning to the Nigerian government and governors, vowing to resist any attempts to destroy the country's public university system. The union is protesting the government's handling of the tertiary education sector, citing fraudulent deductions of union dues and cooperative society funds without remittance since 2020.
ASUU has also rejected the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), which it claims is designed to undermine the autonomy of universities. The union is demanding prioritized funding for tertiary education, citing the sector's neglect and underfunding.
The union's leadership has accused the government of systematically dismantling the public university system, threatening the future of education in Nigeria. ASUU is urging the government to address the lingering issues, including the payment of earned allowances, revitalization of infrastructure, and a renegotiation of the 2009 agreement.
The standoff between ASUU and the government has raised concerns about the potential for another round of strikes, which could further disrupt the academic calendar and affect the quality of education in Nigerian universities. The union's determination to resist any attempts to destroy the public university system has sparked a heated debate about the future of tertiary education in Nigeria.