ASUU Rejects Federal Government’s Loan Scheme for University Staff: "We're in Debt"
- The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has rejected the Federal Government’s newly launched Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund
- The interest-free loan scheme, which offers up to N10 million for university staff, was described by ASUU as a “bait” that would push lecturers further into debt
- The union urged the government to instead sign the renegotiated 2009 agreement and settle withheld salaries, warning of possible strike action if demands are ignored
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has firmly rejected the Federal Government’s newly launched loan scheme for workers in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
The scheme, tagged the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), was unveiled by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, as part of President Bola Tinubu’s education reform agenda.
Source: Twitter
It is designed to provide interest-free loans of up to N10 million for academic and non-academic staff to cater to housing, healthcare, transportation, family needs, and professional training.
ASUU rejects FG's loan scheme
Speaking at a press briefing in Jos, ASUU National President, Professor Christopher Piwuna, dismissed the initiative as a “poison chalice.”
He explained that lecturers are already trapped in debts from cooperatives and other credit sources, stressing that loans cannot solve the deeper crisis facing the education sector.
According to him, what university staff need is better pay and the full implementation of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FG agreement.
“NEC considered this policy of government and decisively rejected the proposition requesting ASUU to write a letter for its members to access loans,” Piwuna said.
“Our members do not lack where to find loans; indeed, they are already deep in debt from such loans. What we need now is for government to sign our renegotiated agreement, which will improve our purchasing power and decrease our reliance on debts from cooperative societies.”
He further argued that the funds earmarked for the loan scheme should be used to settle outstanding salaries owed to lecturers.
“It is needless to add that this government is still owing our members 3½ months salaries for work done. Government should use the money set aside for the loans to defray our withheld salaries. Members are advised to stay away from the loan and focus on our legitimate entitlements because it is a bait,” he added.
ASUU threatens industrial action
ASUU also warned of a possible strike if the government fails to act on longstanding demands. The union listed key issues such as the signing of the renegotiated 2009 agreement, sustainable funding of universities, revitalisation of infrastructure, and the release of withheld salaries.
Source: Facebook
Piwuna noted that several letters have been written to the government urging dialogue, but claimed that authorities have consistently ignored the union.
He cautioned that another industrial action may be inevitable if the Federal Government does not address their grievances.
FG launches interest-free loan for lecturers
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the federal government had introduced a new financial intervention for workers in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions through the launch of the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF).
The initiative was designed to provide interest-free loans that would improve the welfare, professional capacity, and overall financial stability of both academic and non-academic staff across eligible institutions.
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
