The Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has expressed dismay over the federal government’s continued refusal to implement the 2009 negotiation it reached with the union.

The union also expressed dissatisfaction over what it referred to as the neglect of the educational sector through undermining the patriotic efforts of ASUU members.

The union made this known during a peaceful protest on Tuesday in Ile-Ife led by the OAU branch chairman, Anthony Odiwe.

During the protest, the union members carried placards with inscriptions such as “IPPIS is a scam,” “Stop Brain Drain,” “Give proper remuneration to lecturers,” and “A nation that values education is a nation that develops,” among others.

Speaking, Mr Odiwe said the protest was to draw the attention of Nigerians and students to the government’s neglect of the educational sector since 2009.

According to him, there is an urgent need for funding of public universities based on the FGN—ASUU MoU of 2012 and 2013, and the MoA of 2017, renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, and release of the unpaid salaries of members on sabbatical.

Others include payment of promotion arrears and Earned Academic Allowance, implementation of the reports of the visitation panels, illegal dissolution of governing councils in federal and state institutions, and implementation of University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) in place of IPPIS, among others.

The chairman noted that the government’s refusal to implement the agreement, even partially, led to the 2022 strike.

“We called off the strike because of the interest for the system and our students, but instead of the government to address those issues, they stated punishing us.

“Our seven-month salary was withheld; they claimed that they had paid four months’ salary, but what we received was two months’ salary.

“Even the third-party reduction that was removed from our salary has not been remitted to date,” he stated.

The chairman begged religious leaders, traditional rulers and stakeholders to appeal to President Bola Tinubu to implement the agreement.

Also, Adeola Egbedokun, the coordinator of the Akure Zone of ASUU, lamented that the union’s efforts to meet with the Ministers of Education and labour on the issues proved abortive.

He said the union was always ready for a roundtable dialogue with the federal government.

(NAN)