ASUU Calabar zone warns of imminent strike over unpaid allowances

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Calabar zone, has issued a warning of possible strike action in public universities over the federal government’s non-implementation of agreements, lingering unpaid allowances, and deteriorating welfare conditions of its members.

Ikechuku Igwenyi, the zonal coordinator, and chairpersons of the Calabar zone of the union, in a statement, explained that ASUU might no longer guarantee industrial harmony in Abia State University, Akwa Ibom State University, Ebonyi State University, and the University of Cross River State.

“The Calabar Zonal leadership of ASUU today, sadly, alerts all well-meaning Nigerians that it cannot guarantee industrial harmony and, therefore, should not be held responsible when the internal mechanisms collapse.

“This alarm is to sound out ABSU, AKSU, EBSU, and UNICROSS administrations, governing councils, and relevant government authorities that the continued neglect of staff welfare and the breach of signed agreements will definitely push these universities in the zone to the precipice of a ‘total, comprehensive and indefinite industrial action,” the statement read in part.

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Igwenyi emphasised that the institutions have failed to implement any component of the 2009 Federal Government agreement with ASUU, except for partial implementation at the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS).

The ASUU Calabar Zone represents academic staff across public universities in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, and Cross River in parts of the South-East and South-South.

The union noted that despite years of patience and exhibition of uncommon maturity by affected members, the university environment in these institutions has become untenable.

The union listed non-payment of earned academic allowances, non-implementation of the 25/35 percent wage award, consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage, and the recently signed agreement with the federal government on consolidated academic tools allowance and professorial allowance as key grievances.

The Calabar zone ASUU leadership criticised the persistent delays in salary payment, which it said had imposed “severe financial hardships” on members and undermined productivity.

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Besides, the statement accused university administrations of withholding third-party deductions, including check-off dues, cooperative savings, pension contributions, and union welfare dues.

“In UNICROSS, for instance, 24 months’ union dues, welfare, and Special Support Levy, ASUU UNICROSS deduction, and National Housing Fund deduction since 2018 have been deducted and withheld by the university administration,” the statement read.

The ASUU zonal members expressed concerns that inflation has relegated university workers to the “ranks of the working poor”, with payment of rents, hospital bills, and children’s school fees now “uphill tasks”.

“We can no longer be expected to maintain industrial peace while our members cannot afford the basic costs and needs of living. This is not merely a dispute over figures; it is a fight for the survival of the university system,” the statement read.