The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Ahmadu Bello University Zaria branch, has said the Federal Government should be held responsible if the union embarks on a strike.

The Union made this known on Friday, June 21 as it staged a peaceful protest in Zaria, Kaduna State alleging it has been neglected the government.

While speaking at the protest rally, the branch Chairman, Comrade Haruna Mohammed Jibril said the union’s demands included the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, funding for public University revitalization and payment of outstanding entitlements.

“The Federal Government has refused to renegotiate the ASUU/FGN 2009 agreement 15 years after it was signed.

“It would be recalled that owing to the Union’s persistent call for the review of the 2009 Agreement among other demands led the Federal Government to set up the Wale Babalakin-led Joint Renegotiation Committee in 2017

“For irreconcilable reasons, especially due to Wale-Babalakin’s insistence on the re-introduction of the Education Bank which would lead to the introduction of exorbitant tuition fees for students, the process was stalled for over two years.”

Comrade Haruna Mohammed Jibril said despite progress made in renegotiations, the government has kept lecturers on the same salary regime since 2009.

“Furthermore, the Government has left the Nigerian Universities poorly funded. Allowing its infrastructural and staff development to the little funds coming from Tetfund which was meant to be an intervention agency rather than the main source of funding.

“In the aftermath of the 2022 struggle, the Federal Government claimed to have budgeted the sum of one hundred and seventy billion naira (N170B) in the 2023 budget.”

ASUU/ABU branch urges the public to hold the federal government responsible if a strike occurs and calls for support from parents, students and stakeholders in their struggle for better university funding and conditions.