OAU Lecturers Protest Non-Implementation of 2009 Agreement by FG

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has expressed frustration over the federal government’s persistent refusal to implement the 2009 agreement made with the union.

ASUU criticized the government for neglecting the educational sector, undermining the patriotic efforts of its members. This was highlighted during a peaceful protest on Tuesday in Ile-Ife, led by OAU branch chairman Anthony Odiwe.

Union members carried placards with messages such as “IPPIS is a scam,” “Stop Brain Drain,” “Give proper remuneration to lecturers,” and “A nation that values education is a nation that develops.”

Odiwe stated that the protest aimed to draw attention to the government’s neglect of the educational sector since 2009. He emphasized the urgent need for funding public universities according to the FGN—ASUU MoU of 2012 and 2013, and the MoA of 2017. He also called for the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and the release of unpaid salaries for members on sabbatical.

Additional demands included the payment of promotion arrears and Earned Academic Allowance, implementation of the reports of visitation panels, addressing the illegal dissolution of governing councils in federal and state institutions, and replacing IPPIS with the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).

Odiwe noted that the government’s refusal to implement even part of the agreement was a key factor leading to the 2022 strike.

“We called off the strike because of the interest for the system and our students, but instead of the government addressing those issues, they started punishing us.

“Our seven-month salary was withheld; they claimed that they had paid four months’ salary, but what we received was two months’ salary.

“Even the third-party reduction that was removed from our salary has not been remitted to date,” he stated.

The chairman appealed to religious leaders, traditional rulers, and stakeholders to urge President Bola Tinubu to implement the agreement.

Adeola Egbedokun, the coordinator of the Akure Zone of ASUU, lamented that the union’s efforts to meet with the Ministers of Education and Labour on the issues proved abortive. He said the union was always ready for a roundtable dialogue with the federal government.