ASUU Mourns Losses: 46 Members Succumb To Economic Hardship

ASUU Mourns Losses: 46 Members Succumb To Economic Hardship

In a somber revelation, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Abuja zone, has announced the heartbreaking loss of 46 of its members due to the prevailing economic hardship gripping the nation…..READ ALSO NANS Disputes ASUU’s Criticism Of Federal Student Loan Scheme

Speaking with deep concern, the Abuja Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Salihu Muhammed Lawal, highlighted the grim reality faced by academicians in the zone, emphasizing the toll taken by poor remuneration and working conditions.

Lawal, addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday, February 19, 2024, expressed anguish over the dire situation, citing instances where esteemed educators like Professor Johnson Oyero of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, succumbed to illness due to lack of access to quality medical care.

The fallen academics hail from reputable institutions such as the University of Abuja, Federal University of Technology Minna, Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State University, and Ibrahim Babaginda University, Lapai, Niger State, underscoring the widespread impact of the crisis.

Highlighting the exodus of Nigerian academics seeking better opportunities abroad, Lawal lamented the burden placed on those who remain, whose dedication is undermined by inadequate compensation and harsh working conditions.

The ASUU representative decried the federal government’s action of disbursing only a fraction of the long-withheld salaries, leaving many members in dire financial straits.

Urging swift action, Lawal called upon the government to honor its commitments by implementing the Prof Nimi Briggs committee’s renegotiation agreement and promptly disbursing all outstanding salaries, promotion arrears, and Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).

Furthermore, he demanded the immediate implementation of the promised salary adjustments and the settlement of arrears dating back to January 2023, stressing the urgent need for resolution to alleviate the mounting challenges faced by academic staff across the nation.