ASUU Yola Zone Accuses Federal Government of Breaching Agreements

The Yola Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the Federal Government of displaying insensitivity by failing to implement long-standing agreements reached with the union over several years.

The zone, which comprises six university branches, expressed frustration over the government’s consistent reneging on commitments aimed at addressing the challenges in public universities.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by Dani Mamman, the ASUU Yola Zonal Chairman, the union urged the government to uphold the terms of the 2022 agreement, which led to the suspension of a prolonged strike that year.

The ASUU Yola Zone includes branches from Modibbo Adama University, Yola, University of Maiduguri, Federal University Gashua, Taraba State University Jalingo, Adamawa State University Mubi, and Yobe State University Damaturu.

“It does not make sense for the federal government to continually renege on agreements,” Mamman said, urging the government to stop jeopardising the future of Nigerian students by neglecting to implement key accords that were reached.

The union expressed particular concern about the failure of the government to honour memoranda of understanding and action signed between 2013 and 2022.

According to ASUU, this ongoing neglect has seriously undermined efforts to ensure industrial harmony in public universities.

“Instead of addressing the issues at stake, the government has gone into slumber, which clearly shows its insensitivity to the plight of Nigerian students,” the union stated.

ASUU revealed that it had issued a 21-day ultimatum on August 21, 2024, for the government to resolve all outstanding issues, yet no significant progress has been made.

The union criticised the government for engaging in endless meetings, which it claimed served only to provide allowances to government agents, without resolving the core issues.

“We want to make it clear that if, after the additional two-week ultimatum that our national leadership gave the federal government, nothing concrete is achieved, our members will not hesitate to withdraw their services,” the union warned.

ASUU further stressed that it should not be held responsible for any disruption in academic activities if the new deadline passes without an agreeable resolution.

The union blamed the government’s “insensitivity, insincerity, indifference, and time-buying tactics” for the current stalemate.

The statement also criticised the government for mismanaging public funds, noting that while billions of naira are available for renovating the vice president’s residence, purchasing a presidential yacht, and acquiring SUVs for lawmakers, there is a failure to allocate sufficient resources to improve universities that have produced most of the country’s leadership.

ASUU’s Yola Zone reiterated its demand for the government to prioritise the educational sector and fulfil its obligations, warning of impending industrial action if the situation remains unchanged.