ASUU blasts minister for ‘misleading Nigerians’, threatens fresh strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Jos branch, has accused the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, of misleading Nigerians over the Federal Government’s implementation of agreements reached with the union.

The lecturers also warned that they might resume their suspended strike if the government fails to meet their demands within the next two weeks.

In a statement signed by the branch chairperson, Prof. Jurbe Joseph Molwus, ASUU recalled that it had on October 22 issued a four-week ultimatum to the government to resolve all outstanding issues or face industrial action.

Two weeks later, the union said “not much progress” has been made as members were yet to receive their withheld salaries, wage award arrears, promotion arrears, and other entitlements.

“As we prepare for our National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for November 8–9, we expected that these payments would have been made by now. What we get instead are press statements from the Honourable Minister of Education. What we need are credit alerts, not misleading statements,” ASUU said.

The union also faulted the Minister’s claim that ₦2.3 billion had been released to clear salary and promotion arrears across federal universities, describing it as “false and embarrassing.”

“The Minister’s claim of clearing the backlog exists only in his imagination. ₦2.3 billion can barely cover three universities. The Minister must clarify what fraction of the outstanding entitlements this money covers and for whom,” the statement read.

ASUU further expressed concern that the ₦50 billion revitalisation fund reportedly released weeks ago had not reached any university, describing the Minister’s statements as “contradictory and inconsistent.”

“It’s time for the Minister to realise that only genuine engagement beyond words can resolve ASUU’s demands. Palliatives do not cure diseases,” the union added.

ASUU also called on President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate commitment to ending the crisis in the tertiary education sector by appointing a more competent minister who understands the challenges of higher education.

“The strike was only suspended as a sign of goodwill. We expect the government to reciprocate by addressing our demands without further delay,” Prof. Molwus warned, adding that the four-week ultimatum expires on November 21.