2009 agreement: Nationwide strike looms as ASUU, non-academic staff issue ultimatum

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Joseph Erunke

Abuja-Nationwide onslaught looms arsenic some the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and non-academic staff, nether the aegis of National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, person alerted the national authorities of their plans to embark connected the enactment to unit the national authorities to instrumentality the 2009 statement reached with themselves.

While ASUU has conscionable a week of the 14-day ultimatum fixed authorities left, NASS yesterday issued a 14-day ultimatum, nonaccomplishment of which it would embark connected strike.

ASUU, successful a caller connection to its members yesterday, expressed disappointment implicit what it called the “continued lethargy” of the authorities successful responding to issues affecting assemblage lecturers and the nation’s nationalist tertiary institutions.

According to a bulletin, titled “Strike Bulletin No. 1,” dated October 5, 2025, and signed by the President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, ASUU said it has begun mobilising its members successful each nationalist universities crossed the state successful readiness for the strike.

Piwuna lamented that contempt the resolutions of the National Executive Council, NEC, gathering held connected September 28 astatine the University of Abuja being promptly communicated to applicable authorities, determination had been “no meaningful improvement deserving of immoderate consideration.

“The resolutions were instantly communicated to the Minister of Labour, the Minister of Education, and the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.

‘’It is present 1 week since those resolutions were reached and communicated. I regret to pass you that determination is nary meaningful improvement deserving of immoderate information to beryllium reported.’’

“As we participate the last week of the ultimatum, I convey our members for their patience and knowing passim this tortuous process. Our extremity remains to compel the authorities to motion and instrumentality the renegotiated statement and fulfill different pending commitments,” helium added.

On its part, NAAT successful a connection signed by the president, Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma, said:  “NEC reviewed the advancement made, pursuing the conciliation gathering convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment connected July 30, 2025, wherever a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, was signed, and the gathering convened by the Minister of Education connected Thursday, September 11, 2025, and the unfolding events successful the acquisition sector.

“The issues successful contention are the non-completion of the FGN/ NAAT 2009 Agreement renegotiation, which seeks to reappraisal the existing salaries, allowances and different conditions of work successful the Nigerian assemblage system.

“In fact, lone the inaugural gathering was held betwixt the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed-led renegotiation committee and NAAT connected December 10, 2024.”

 It is, therefore, worrisome to perceive that a study has been submitted by the committee to the national government.

“The mainstreaming of Earned Allowances into the salaries of Academic Technologists to curb further accumulation of arrears and their attendant consequences.

“Non-release of the enabling circular for CONTISS 14 & 15 to alteration NAAT members to get to the highest of their careers, and of recently, the hold successful outgo of monthly salaries, which causes untold hardship connected NAAT members, considering the existent economical realities.”

NAAT categorically stated that it rejected and could not judge the thought of disparity and distortions successful wage tables of assemblage unit and appealed to the authorities to debar immoderate enactment that could precipitate a situation successful the system.

It stated further: “NAAT is of the presumption that addressing the wage increment should beryllium broad and all-encompassing by maintaining the existing relationships among assorted wage tables being operated successful the Nigerian assemblage system.

“Consequent upon the above, the union, hereby, issues a 14-day ultimatum to the authorities to code the demands listed above.

“While the national remains unfastened to dialogue, nonaccomplishment to code these demands by FG astatine the expiration of the ultimatum, the national volition beryllium near with nary different opt...