In order to maintain labour harmony in Nigeria, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kano Zone, has urged the Federal Government to resolve any unresolved matters in the agreements and memoranda they signed with the union.
The call was made by Mr. Abdulqadir Muhammad, the zonal coordinator, during a news conference held on Thursday in Kano following a zonal meeting that included the seven universities in the zone.
He clarified that among other things, the concerns include respecting university autonomy, support for the rehabilitation of public universities for global relevance, and renegotiation of the Federal Government-ASUU 2009 agreement.
He claims that there has been a brain drain among their members as a result of the nonsigning of the proposed renegotiated agreement, which has caused widespread dissatisfaction and a decline in morale.
Therefore, ASUU Kano zone calls on the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to respect the provisions of International Labour Organization (ILO) convention, to which Nigeria is a signatory.” He also called for the release of funds for the payment of salary arrears, Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), and withheld salaries.
Regarding university autonomy, the union demanded that the Kano State Government promptly restore the two state-owned universities’ arbitrarily disbanded governing councils.
The ASUU Kano Zone further urged the state governments to follow the presidential instruction issued as a result of a court decision exempting tertiary institutions from the IPPIS and to cease allowing its members to enlist illegally on connected platforms.
Concerning the status of the country, ASUU voiced concerns about poverty, unemployment, growing living expenses, displacement of livelihoods, and increased levels of destitution.
Additionally, they demanded that the Nigeria University Commission (NUC) Act be reviewed immediately by the government in order to prevent the country’s institutions from expanding too quickly without sufficient funding.