The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has designated September 10, 2024, as Victimized Lecturers’ Day to highlight ongoing management crises and the struggles faced by lecturers in Nigerian public universities. ASUU’s National President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, announced this decision during a press briefing at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture. He criticized the management of various institutions, including Kogi State University, Ebonyi State University, and Lagos State University, for issues such as terminated appointments, withheld salaries, and denied promotions.
ASUU also condemned the treatment of its members at the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), particularly in relation to the controversial conferment of a professorship title on former Minister Isah Pantami. The union has called for the Federal Government to address several demands, including revising the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, paying outstanding allowances, and ending third-party deductions from members’ salaries.
Additionally, ASUU criticized the current funding and administrative systems, such as the Single Treasury Account (TSA) and the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS), and noted a decline in both local and foreign academic talent due to the deteriorating conditions in Nigerian universities. The union has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address these issues before deciding on further actions.
