Tensions in Nigeria's university sector are escalating as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) prepares to meet with the Federal Government on July 25, 2024. The meeting comes amidst ongoing protests and threats of another strike by ASUU over unmet demands. Students have joined the protests, adding pressure on the government to resolve the impasse.
Meanwhile, non-academic staff unions, including the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), have announced a one-day protest on July 9, 2024. A national protest is also scheduled for July 18, 2024. The unions are demanding payment of four months' worth of withheld salaries, despite previous meetings with the government.
The government's decision to pay academic staff their withheld salaries while excluding non-academic staff has exacerbated the situation. ASUU is demanding the endorsement of the 2009 agreement, payment of third-party deductions, and the release of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical leave, part-time, and adjunct appointments. The unions' demands also include improved funding for universities and better working conditions.
The standoff has created uncertainty and disruption in the university sector, with students bearing the brunt of the impasse. As the situation unfolds, stakeholders are urging the government and unions to find a swift resolution to avoid further damage to the country's education system.