Nigeria’s public universities may be on the verge of another shutdown as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) meets this weekend to discuss the alleged plot to frustrate the release of N300 billion university revitalization fund.
According to sources, officials from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Education are trying to withhold the funds, sparking concerns among ASUU members. The union has threatened to take industrial action if the issue is not resolved.
A recent meeting between the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, the Accountant General, and ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, resulted in an agreement to roll over the funds to this year. However, a letter from the Minister of Education to the Accountant General requesting the rollover has been dismissed as an attempt to placate ASUU.
ASUU has been seeking the implementation of a 2009 agreement with the Federal Government, which promised N1.3 trillion in intervention funds for university revitalization over five years. Despite a review of the agreement in 2014, it remains unimplemented, leading to repeated industrial actions by ASUU.
The Federal Ministry of Education is reportedly making frantic moves to prevent any form of strike under the Tinubu-led government. However, ASUU’s meeting this weekend will determine the next course of action.
If the issue is not resolved, it may lead to another prolonged strike, disrupting academic activities in public universities.
