The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan chapter, has accused the Federal Government of lacking sincerity in its approach to collective bargaining and the welfare of academic staff in public universities.
The institution’s ASUU Chairman, Dr Adefemi Afolabi, made the accusation while speaking on Situation Room, a radio programme in Ibadan. This followed the union’s two-week warning strike to protest the government’s failure to sign the renegotiated draft agreement, which was concluded eight months ago by the Yayale Ahmed-led committee.
Afolabi said the union was forced into industrial action due to the government’s “delay tactics” and disregard for the principles of collective bargaining. He noted that despite ASUU’s patience and several protests, the government restarted the negotiation process with a new committee, which he described as a “waste of time and resources.”
He lamented the mass resignation of professors and young lecturers, many of whom are leaving the country over poor pay and harsh working conditions.
Afolabi warned that the continued neglect of lecturers’ welfare would worsen brain drain and jeopardise the future of university education in Nigeria.
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