In a dramatic showdown between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government, the University of Calabar Chapter has issued an urgent call for the government to implement the long-overdue recommendations from the Prof. Nimi Briggs-led committee. This escalating crisis reveals the deep-rooted tensions surrounding the welfare of university staff and the deteriorating educational landscape in Nigeria.

In a revealing interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dr. Peter Ubi, the ASUU Chairman at the University of Calabar, vented the union's mounting frustration at the government's shocking inaction. The Prof. Nimi Briggs-led committee was established explicitly to renegotiate the 2009 Federal Government–ASUU Agreement, a crucial guideline governing the relationship between the government and beleaguered university staff.

Despite the committee submitting a draft agreement back in 2021, which was expected to receive a stamp of approval from the government, Dr. Ubi lamented that the Federal Government has not only ignored the committee's recommendations but has also dismissed the union's demands outright. “After ASUU suspended its strike and issued a one-month ultimatum, the government has failed to deliver any tangible commitment,” Ubi exclaimed, capturing the sheer exasperation of the academic community.

Initially demanding African Average Salaries for professors, the union made the significant concession to adjust this demand to West African Average Salaries, only to have both proposals flatly rejected by the government. Instead, the government presented the recommendations from the Briggs-led committee, which ASUU reluctantly accepted in a spirit of compromise. “Our surprise now is that the government has refused to sign the outcome of the Briggs-led committee, which it initiated,” Ubi stressed, displaying the union's disillusionment with the government’s lack of action.

Furthermore, Dr. Ubi didn’t hold back in criticizing the government’s recent offer of a mere 35 percent salary increase, calling it a gross deviation from the recommendations of the Briggs-led committee. “The government is using delay tactics, but ASUU's position has not wavered. We stand firm on the Briggs-led committee agreement,” he asserted, solidifying the union's unwavering stance.

The situation has taken a turn for the worse, compounded by comments from the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, who shockingly stated that the 2009 FGN–ASUU agreement remains the last formally signed pact with the union. While he noted that the 2021 Briggs-led committee draft was not signed, he unconvincingly claimed it serves as the latest framework for discussions,a claim that has left many scratching their heads.

The ongoing standoff between ASUU and the Federal Government raises alarming concerns about the future of higher education in Nigeria. As the union continues to press for the implementation of the Briggs committee's recommendations, the stakes are incredibly high for both university staff and students affected by these unresolved issues.

As this situation unfolds, the academic community and stakeholders across Nigeria are left anxiously watching, hoping for a resolution that genuinely prioritizes the welfare of educators and the quality of education in the country.