The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed strong opposition to the Federal Government’s intention to automatically deduct 40% from universities’ Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). The Ministry of Finance had notified academic institutions of this plan in October, drawing criticism from ASUU.
In a statement issued after its National Executive Council meeting at Kaduna State University, ASUU’s National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, argued that universities were not revenue-generating agencies. Osodeke emphasized that student fees were essential for providing necessary tools for proper education and urged the government to reconsider this directive.
The statement revealed that during the meeting held from November 11th to 12th, 2023, ASUU also expressed concern about the Accountant General’s office’s refusal to pay promotion arrears since 2018. The union called on the government to release withheld salaries from the eight months’ strike action in 2022, emphasizing the need for a resolution of outstanding issues.
Additionally, ASUU decried the reported victimization and attacks against its members at various institutions, including the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, and Lagos State University, Ojo.