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UNICAL ASUU Threatens Strike Over Unpaid Arrears and 2009 Agreement |
UNICAL ASUU threatens strike over unpaid arrears, unresolved agreements, and poor welfare of lecturers. Union warns of imminent action if demands remain unmet.
ASUU Calabar Chapter Raises Alarm Over Unresolved Issues
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Calabar (UNICAL) chapter, has once again expressed frustration with the Federal Government’s failure to address critical demands. Speaking at a press conference in Calabar, the branch Chairperson, Dr. Peter Ubi, warned that another round of strike action may be inevitable if urgent measures are not taken.
Ubi stressed that despite multiple negotiations, the government continues to ignore issues affecting the academic community, describing the situation as a violation of collective bargaining principles.
Key Demands of UNICAL ASUU
According to Dr. Ubi, the union’s demands are long-standing and well-documented. Many were previously raised at a national press conference themed “The Most Powerful Weapon Against Poverty, Extremism, and Ignorance Was Not the Bullet, but Education.”
UNICAL ASUU’s unresolved demands include:
- Renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement to reflect current realities.
- Sustainable funding and revitalisation of public universities.
- Payment of 25–35% salary arrears owed to lecturers.
- Settlement of promotion arrears spanning over four years.
- Resolution of outstanding third-party deductions.
Despite assurances from the government, Ubi noted that there has been no meaningful progress on these issues.
Erosion of Trust and Welfare Concerns
The union emphasized that many of its members are financially strained, often relying on cooperative society loans to meet basic needs. According to Ubi, implementing the renegotiated agreement would help restore lecturers’ purchasing power and ease their financial burdens.
He also criticized the treatment of retired academic staff under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). Many retired professors, he noted, live in hardship despite decades of service.
“It is unacceptable that a senior academic who has served for over 40 years receives a meagre N150,000 monthly. Retired colleagues are battling chronic health conditions while still supporting unemployed children. This injustice must be corrected,” Ubi said.
Government’s Role in University Development
While commending the Federal Government for recently suspending the indiscriminate establishment of new universities, Ubi urged authorities to ensure that future institutions are approved only with clear development and funding plans. He stressed that poorly planned universities only worsen existing challenges in Nigeria’s education sector.
Additionally, the National Universities Commission (NUC) offers authoritative updates on accreditation, university approvals, and higher education policies in Nigeria.
The UNICAL ASUU strike threat reflects growing discontent among Nigerian academics over unpaid arrears, unfulfilled agreements, and declining welfare conditions. Unless the government takes concrete steps to address these concerns, another nationwide ASUU strike may be imminent, further destabilizing Nigeria’s university system and academic calendar.
