The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Abuja zone has issued a heartfelt lamentation over the tragic deaths of 46 academics, citing economic hardship, inadequate remuneration, and unfavorable working conditions as contributing factors.
The recent passing of Professor Johnson Oyero at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, due to a lack of access to quality medical care, served as a stark reminder of the dire consequences faced by university staff amidst the prevailing challenges.
ASUU voiced strong criticism against the government, led by President Tinubu, accusing it of failing to honor commitments made to address the underlying issues that often lead to industrial actions in universities. Despite assurances from the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, regarding salary increases and exemptions for university academics from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), ASUU contends that these promises remain unfulfilled.
According to ASUU, the government’s failure to implement agreements, including salary adjustments and the payment of arrears, coupled with its reluctance to exempt universities from IPPIS, has exacerbated the plight of academics and deepened the crisis within the educational sector.
In light of these challenges, ASUU urgently calls upon the government to prioritize the welfare of university staff by fulfilling its commitments and addressing systemic issues that undermine the quality of education and jeopardize the well-being of academics.
