The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Calabar Zone says it is set for another industrial action from November 7 should the federal government failed to honour it agreement with the union.
The zonal leadership of the union made this position known in a press statement by it zonal coordinator, Happiness Uduk, Chairperson, Abia State University, and Patrick Ushie of University of Cross River State.
The ASUU noted that it added another 14-days to the earlier 21days ultimatum it issued the government on September 23 to meet up with it demands.
Among the 10 demands by the body is the release of the withheld three and a half months’ salaries as a result of the 2022 industrial action.
It also demanded for the conclusion of the re-negotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Draft Agreement by the Nimi Briggs Committee in 2021.
Simirlarly, ASUU also want the release of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time and adjunct which were affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System otherwise called the IPPIS.
Furthermore, it demanded for the release of outstanding third-party deductions such as check-off dues and co-operative contributions by members, which were captured in the 2023 Federal budget
While it also demanded for funding for the revitalization of public universities partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government budget among others.
“The failure of governments to implement contents of several Memoranda of Understanding and Action between 2013 and 2022 have particularly hampered access to wholesome industrial harmony in public Universities.
“Since the inception of this government, all efforts to get them to adopt and implement the said Agreement have been frustrated.
With the current economic realities, even the wage award and palliative cannot replace the renegotiated agreement which was reached following the time-tried and honoured principle of Collective Bargaining
“Equally very sad is the fact that Government has refused to even address issues that are non-monetary; the most visible being the exit of Universities from the obnoxious IPPIS in spite of a Presidential Directive and a Court order since Dec. 2023,” it explained.