Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has stated that the Federal Government has yet to fulfill all agreements made with organized labor, specifically those involving ASUU, since President Bola Tinubu’s inauguration in May 2023.
He conveyed this information during a press briefing earlier in the week at the Gidan Kwano Main Campus of the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna, located in the capital of Niger State. Additionally, he mentioned that members of the National Executive Council (NEC) are presently engaged in nationwide consultations with branch members of the union. The objective is to make informed decisions regarding the next course of action after the upcoming NEC meeting later this month.
Professor Osodeke expressed regrets that despite the gentlemen agreement between the union and the Federal Government, no dime had been paid to its members, thereby creating unnecessary hardship for their families.
Asked if promises made by the Federal Government had been fulfilled, Osodeke said: “Well, none has been implemented. On the issue of wage award and the issue of seven and half salary arrears, I can tell you that nothing has been implemented. In fact, as I am talking to you now, none of our members has been paid.”
On the possibility of embarking on industrial action to press home their demands, ASUU boss said the association will present all the suggestions gathered during its nationwide consultations at the NEC meeting and take necessary action.
Speaking on the aAsuussociation’s next line of action, Professor Osodeke said, “That is why we have come to see our members and we are seeking their views about the next line of action which we are taking to our NEC meeting in February ( this month). And at the NEC meeting we are going to take a decision”, he noted.
Also in a separate remark, the branch Chairman, ASUU, FUTMinna Prof. Gbolahan Bolarin, described the visit of Professor Osodeke and his entourage to the University as encouraging and assured him of his members’ unflinching support to achieve the set objective.