Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) members at the University of Ibadan on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest within the campus, demanding that the Federal Government urgently sign and implement the renegotiated 2009 agreement.
The lecturers, joined by officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), carried placards with inscriptions such as “Sign the Agreement, Save Education” and “Preserve Those Who Lay the Golden Eggs.”
Chairman of ASUU, University of Ibadan chapter, Dr. Adefemi Afolabi, said the union was tired of government’s endless promises and warned that failure to act by the August 28 deadline could lead to a nationwide strike.
Similarly, Oyo State NLC chairman, Mr. Kayode Martins, decried the neglect of university lecturers, stressing that “those who lay the golden eggs must be preserved.” He noted that the poor welfare of academics was fueling brain drain and crippling Nigeria’s education system.
The protest at UI mirrored similar demonstrations across public universities nationwide, as ASUU reiterated that unresolved salary arrears, stalled agreements, and lack of adequate funding for education would no longer be tolerated.
The union maintained that unless the Federal Government takes concrete steps at Thursday’s meeting, the country should brace up for another round of industrial action that may disrupt academic activities across campuses.