BREAKING: UNICAL ASUU warns of Strike action over unaddressed demands

Keep up with the latest news and be part of our weekly giveaways and airtime sharing; follow our WhatsApp channel for more updates. Click to Follow us

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the University of Calabar chapter has expressed frustration over the Federal Government’s failure to address longstanding demands, warning that strike action may be imminent. According to the branch Chairperson, Peter Ubi, “Three months ago, our Union highlighted our concerns at a press conference at our National Secretariat, under the theme, ‘The Most Powerful Weapon Against Poverty, Extremism, and Ignorance Was Not the Bullet, but Education.’”

For further information on education, read more details here

Ubi noted that despite intensive negotiations, several critical issues remain unresolved, which he described as a deliberate attempt by the government to disregard the Union’s collective bargaining principles. “We raised key demands, including the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, sustainable funding and revitalisation of universities, payment of outstanding 25–35% salary arrears, promotion arrears spanning over four years, and unresolved third-party deductions,” he said

Ubi expressed that trust in the government has eroded, stating, “Our members are already burdened with loans. All we need is for the government to sign our renegotiated agreement, which would improve our purchasing power and reduce reliance on cooperative society loans.”

The ASUU chairperson also criticised the government’s treatment of retired academic staff, noting that those who served under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) have been neglected. “It is unacceptable that a senior academic who has served for over 40 years receives a monthly salary of just N150,000, while retired colleagues struggle with chronic health conditions and support unemployed children they have educated. This trend must be reversed,” Ubi said. 

While commending the government for placing a moratorium on the establishment of new universities, Ubi urged authorities to ensure that any future universities have clear development plans before approval. The union’s warning of potential strike action underscores the growing tensions between ASUU and the Federal Government over unresolved demands and the welfare of academic staff.

Please don’t forget to “Allow the notification” so you will be the first to get our gist when we publish it. 
Drop your comment in the section below, and don’t forget to share the post