ASUU: We lost 60 lecturers to overwork, poor salary in 4 months

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has disclosed that it lost 60 members due to overwork and poor remuneration between November 2023 and February 2024.

The Ibadan Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Prof. Oyebamiji Oyegoke, disclosed this at a press conference in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Friday, May 24, 2024.

Oyegoke said ASUU lost 60 lecturers in four months apart from the attrition experienced by the members of the union.

He decried the silence of the Federal Government and called for the implementation of the Late Nimi Briggs-led renegotiated agreement.

Oyegoke said the negotiated salary of ASUU members had not changed since 2009 as the government had yet to commit itself to negotiated welfare packages for the lecturers.

The ASUU zonal coordinator said: “We, therefore, call on the Tinubu-led administration to immediately set in motion the process of signing and implementing the Late Nimi Briggs-led renegotiated agreement.

ASUU decries FG’s silence on agreement’s implementation, hints at strike

“ASUU condemns this draconian silence of federal and state governments about this issue that has led to avoidable deaths of many members of our union across the campuses.

“We hope our union will not be forced to take some unpleasant decisions to address these lingering issues.”

Oyegoke further enjoined the government to adhere strictly to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Establishment Act and ensure proper funding of public universities.

“Government should revert to quarterly releases of university subventions to enable the institutions to design and implement their salary payment plans under the supervision of their Governing Councils,” he added.

Oyegoke also called for the end of what he described as dictatorship in some public universities and the reversal of injustice against ASUU members as well as reinstating and adequately compensating those sacked.

Oyegoke added: “For the umpteenth time, our union is calling on well-meaning Nigerians, opinion leaders, traditional and religious leaders, media, labour movements, students’ groups and civil society organisations to prevail on federal and state governments to see through our patriotic demands.

“It is aimed at rescuing the education sector from the abyss into which ‘anti-educational forces’ want to plunge it.”

The Star