The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), university of Jos chapter, has called on the federal government to tackle the rising security challenges and economic hardship in the country.

Associate Prof. Jurbe Molwus, the chairman of the union, said this at a news conference on Friday in Jos.

Mr Molwus blamed the increasing poverty among Nigerians on some government policies, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy.

”The famous subsidy removal and the floating exchange rate have translated into hyper-inflation noticeable in higher commodity pricing among others.

”The quality of lives of ordinary Nigerians has declined and the gap between the haves and the have-not is expanding on a daily basis,”he said.

The chairman called on the federal goverment to accelerate the process of arriving at a minimum wage as demanded by the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC).

He advised the government to urgently review all economic policies which are increasingly degrading the quality of lives in Nigeria

Mr Molwus called on the federal government to implement all agreements reached with ASUU over the years before the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum issued by its national executive council.

He said that failure to implement the agreements within stipulated time may result in a full blown industrial action by the union.

(NAN)