Barely 24hrs after a similar call by the local branch at Federal University Dutse in Jigawa State, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Federal University, Gashua branch in Yobe State, has asked the Federal Government to address the lingering issues affecting universities or risk another disruption of academic activities on campuses.
The Chairman of the branch, Melemi Abatcha, and his members who addressed newsmen in Damaturu on Thursday – made a case for the revitalisation of Nigerian public universities through funding – as well as the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement
Other issues they listed include university autonomy, the proliferation of public universities, the backlog of allowances amounting to N50 billion and withheld salaries
Melemi also explained that the removal of fuel subsidy without credible alternatives had brought untold hardship on the people, adding that it would not want to compound the situation with yet another industrial action
The union also called on the Federal Government to show sensitivity to the plight of Nigerians by speedily agreeing and implementing an acceptable living wage for Nigerian workers to mitigate hardship.