ASUU Says Government Delays May Trigger Fresh Closure of Universities: The Kano Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities has again warned that another shutdown of public universities may be close, as discussions with the Federal Government continue to drag without any real progress.
During a press briefing in Kano on Monday, the Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Abdulkadir Muhammad, explained that the union is worried about what it sees as the government’s slow and unclear approach toward resolving long-standing issues. He mentioned that members were disappointed by the pace of the renegotiation, especially after the National Executive Council meeting held on the 8th and 9th of November at Taraba State University. Let’s check it from that angle: the outcome did not give much confidence.
He also recalled the two-week warning strike that began on the 13th of October and was suspended on the 21st after appeals from students, parents and other concerned Nigerians. The suspension, according to him, was mainly to allow room for more meaningful engagement. However, the hope for a complete and timely settlement seems to be fading again.
Muhammad accused some government officials of using tactics that slow down the process and confuse the public about what is actually happening in the negotiations. He admitted that the recent payment of accumulated promotion arrears and some third-party deductions was a step forward, but he also noted that these actions do not cover the core issues. In his view, what has been offered so far will not significantly improve the working conditions of lecturers or attract more qualified scholars into the system.
He also questioned claims that most of ASUU’s demands had already been met. Statements like that, he said, raise doubts about the government’s sincerity and suggest that there is more focus on public statements than on genuine solutions.
The Kano Zone further criticised the increasing trend of creating new universities without proper funding. According to Muhammad, many politicians have turned new university projects into political achievements. He advised that the Federal Government’s seven-year moratorium on establishing new universities should also apply to state institutions.
With ASUU’s one-month ultimatum approaching its end, the zone called on stakeholders to intervene. The appeal is for the government to address all unresolved matters quickly, so that another total shutdown of universities can be avoided.
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