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Tag: Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)

LAUTECH: ASUU urge the two owner-state to fulfill their pledge

The Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU ) LAUTECH Chapter has called on the two owner-states of the institution to redeem their pledge which made the Union to suspend its strike last month.

The statement was made by the union Chairman, LAUTECH chapter, Dr. Biodun Olaniran while explaining the present situation of the union in the institution.

Read: APC hails Ajimobi, Aregbesola for reopening LAUTECH

He said, “lecturers are ready to work towards success of the on-going academic year of the institution, but it is very necessary for the owner-states to fulfill their promise, saying they are concerned with the future of the students of the institution”.

Speaking on the report of nationwide strike likely to be embarked upon by the ASUU, Dr. Olaniran stated that National Executive Council of ASUU is in the best position to comment on the proposed development.

Read Also: Varsities unions brace for battle

November 8, 2017
Lecturers, others begin warning strike in Otuoke varsity

Workers under the Joint Action Committee ( JAC ) of four trade unions of the Federal University, Otuoke ( FUO ), Bayelsa State, yesterday, commenced a five-day warning strike following allegations that the management of the school and the governing council were insensitive to their plight.

The JAC, which undertook the action consisted of the Academic staff Union of Universities ( ASUU ); the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities ( SSANU ); the National Association of Academic Technologists ( NAAT ) and the Non-Academic Staff Union ( NASU ).

The workers in a communique on June 22, 2017, cried out that the Senator Gbemi Saraki-led governing council was allegedly doing nothing about the issues of staff welfare, promotions, salary disparity, tax remitances, pension remission, statutory allowances, confirmation of appointment, among others.

They also alleged that Saraki who is the Pro-Chancellor of the university was running the institution as her personal business.

The workers in a notice sent to the Vice-Chancellor, FUO, Prof. Accra Jaja, and signed by the Chairman, JAC-FUO, Dr. Omororo Joseph, said that if their grievances were not addressed after the end of the warning, they would make the industrial action indefinite.

The unions’ communique after their meeting said; ”On behalf of the Joint Action Committee of the Federal University of Otuoke, we write to you (Vice-Chancellor). Having observed all due processess as well as relevant rules and regulations guiding the operations of the unions, we bring to your notice our warning strike.

”Sequel to the insensitivity of management and governing council of this university to the communique dated June 22, 2017, and associated reminders from JAC, a joint congress was held today (October 16, 2017) at the university auditorium, East Campus.

”In the light of the above, please be informed that JAC shall with effect from today, Monday, October 16, 2017, embark on a five working days warning strike.

”We hope that this action will give our communique the deserved response and attention in the interest of peace, harmony and stability of the university community.”

October 17, 2017
UniAbuja to commence academic activities Oct. 3

The University of Abuja( UniAbuja ) is to commence full academic activities on Oct. 3, following the suspension of the nationwide strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) .

The Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr Waziri Mohammed,
disclosed this on Wednesday in an interview with the New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gwagwalada .

He told NAN that since the university has formally resumed after the ASUU strike, the management had been working on the time table for revision and examinations at all levels.

Meanwhile, the President, Students Union Government (SUG), Ajiboye Okoyekola, had earlier forwarded messages to students briefing them on issues regarding resumption.

He enjoined them to stay off the hostels as fumigation and general cleaning was ongoing.

“The students should please bear with any inconveniences this decision may bring,” he said.

He, however, urged the students to study hard, adding that exams would likely start on Oct. 9.

September 27, 2017
NANS urges FG, NASU, SSANU to shift ground

The National Association of Nigerian Students ( NANS ) on Thursday urged Federal Government and Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities ( NASU ) to shift ground for industrial harmony.

NASU National President Kadiri Aruna made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN ) in Enugu.

NAN reports that NASU’s members and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities ( SSANU ) had been on strike for past three weeks over certain demands.

Aruna said that the strike which was called off by Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU ) early this week would not make much impact if NASU remained on strike.

He, however, said that NANS would engage the Federal Government as well as the leadership of NASU and SSANU to look to the plight of students and find a way to resolve issues.

“As a matter of fact, by next week we are going to write officially to Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Education, NASU, SSANU and other stakeholders in tertiary education sector for them to consider Nigerian students.

“The recent call-off of strike by ASUU will not make an impact if the non-academic staff members of universities are not working.

“The strike of non-academic staff of universities means that the campuses, although opened, but cannot function normal,’’ he said.

Aruna, however, urged students to return to campuses and resume classes in order to meet up and cover the academic activities for the session.

“We want our members, Nigerian students, to resume lectures forthwith in order to show our commitment to learning and appreciate lecturers that had resumed classes,’’ he said.

September 21, 2017
LAUTECH: ASUU vows not to resume work

The Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU ), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology ( LAUTECH ), Ogbomoso Chapter has vowed not to resume work in the midst of the varsity reopening.

This was made known in a press release obtained by The Nation, which was signed by the Secretary Dr Toyin Abegunrin which reads “Comrades, we believe that our members are fully informed and clear about the issues that led us into the crisis. None of the issues has been addressed and the Governing Council that promised to get back to us after their meeting with the Union but up till now we haven’t gotten any response from them.

In the light of the above, our strike is still in full force. The national body of our Union is fully briefed on the state of Things in LAUTECH and is on the same page with us. Let us remain resolute, we shall overcome.
Dare to struggle, dare to win.

Speaking with the ASUU chairman Lautech Chapter, Dr Biodun Olaniran, he said “We are not concerned with the reopening of the varsity but as a union we are still on strike. In the Congress we had yesterday we all came to a conclusion that we would not resume any work because our needs are not addressed”.

“Our demands are; Earned academic allowances, Pension and gratuity, national health insurance, conditions of service, promotion arrears, budget monitoring committee, payment of salaries and arrears”, he said

It should be recalled that the institution has been reopened after so many month due to lack of poor funding of the lecturers since December 2013.

September 15, 2017
Strike: FG, ASUU reach compromise

The Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU ) have reached a fresh agreement that will see striking lecturers going back to the classroom within the shortest possible time.

At a conciliatory meeting coordinated by the Minister of a Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, the government agreed to commence immediate payment of salary shortfall to the lecturers as well as the payment of quarterly revitalisation funds to universities immediately.

The ASUU leaders however promised to communicate the decisions reached at the meeting which started at 1.40pm on Thursday and lasted for about 15 hours to its National Executive Council with a view to calling of the strike and reconvene a meeting with government.within one week.

Details later

September 8, 2017
ASUU: Fed Govt to present terms at meeting today
Whether the ongoing strike by university lecturers will end soon or later will be known today as negotiators of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) meet today with the the federal government team.

Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu is expected to present the government’s position on the demands by the teachers.

ASUU is demanding the release of N1.3trillion revitalization funds to the universities in line with the agreement it reached with the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

About N220billion of the N1.3trillion was approved by the last administration and disbursed to the universities.

The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is finding it difficult to make any commitment on the balance of N1.080trillion because of the poor economic situation.

The lecturers are however adamant on the release of more of the revitalization/ intervention funds. They are also insisting on six other conditions.

These are: .That the Federal Government should immediately take over and accept payment of shortfall in salaries of universities; universities to manage their IGR the way they like and exemption from TSA; Exemption of Endowment Funds, JV cash from TSA; payment of University Salary Scale to teachers in primary schools in universities; release/implementation of guidelines for the retirement of Professors in line with 2009 FG-ASUU Agreement; and waiver/ government fiat to set up Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company (NUPEMCO).

It was learnt that Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Ayuba Wabba is facilitating the meeting which will be coordinated by Minister of Labour and Employment Dr. Chris Ngige.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that although the Federal Government has conceded to some demands by the lecturers, ASUU felt the peace terms were not far-reaching.

The terms acceptable to the government border on approval of payment of N23b Earned Allowances; forensic audit of N30b earlier released as Earned Allowances; exemption of Endowment Funds and Joint Ventures cash only from Treasury Single Account; issuance of the right form by PENCOM for the registration of Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company (NUPEMCO); and FG not going yet to National Industrial Court or IAP to resolve issues; allowing Wale Babalakin Committee to complete its assignment on FG-ASUU Agreement

The issues that may dominate talks today are:
- Reopening of varsities while negotiation continues
- FG’s take over and accept payment of shortfall in salaries of universities
- Universities to manage their IGR the way they like and exemption from TSA
- Payment of University Salary Scale to teachers in primary schools in universities
- Release/implementation of guidelines for the retirement of Professors in line with 2009 FG-ASUU Agreement
- Govt fiat to set up Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company(NUPEMCO)
- Why ASUU should comply with labour laws in declaring strike action
A source said: “We want to hasten the negotiation in a cordial manner which will lead to the reopening of universities. This is why the government has not referred this matter to the National Industrial Court (NIC) or Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP).

“The lecturers will have the opportunity of conditions acceptable to the government and those considered unrealistic like the exemption of universities from TSA.

“Except for Endowment Funds and JV cash, the government will not exempt universities from TSA. The basic aim of TSA is to check corruption in the management of scarce resources. The Ivory Tower should not be opposed to TSA at all. We won’t compromise this policy to please any group or institution.”

The source added that the government would present the hard facts on the nation’s economy and why there might not be immediate release of more part of the N1.3tr revitalization/ intervention funds for universities.

“The N1.3 trillion was intervention grant to public universities on the platform of National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) Assessment Programme.

“The administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013 accepted to make the N1.3trillion available to the universities in six years beginning with the payment of about N200billion. Thereafter the government will provide N220billion in the budget for the remaining five years till 2018.

“As part of the process of raising funds for the N1.3trillion, it was agreed that ‘a dedicated revitalization account shall be opened at the Central Bank of Nigeria. Funds shall be paid into the account on quarterly basis from which the universities draw. FG shall then ensure that these funds will be ring-fenced.’ This was what Jonathan administration entered into with ASUU.

“The burden has been passed to the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. There is no way this administration can commit about N1trillion or N800billion or N220billion into the universities in the face of the economic situation of the country and competing needs.

“What the government will do is to put machinery in motion to reach an agreement with ASUU on how to remit these funds without hurting the economy.”

The top source also said the government will also open mutual discussion with ASUU over the union’s non-compliance with the labour laws in declaring any action.

“The varsity lecturers did not give notice of industrial action in line with the labour laws and the 1999 Constitution. Section 40 of the constitution creates unions and political parties.”

Dr. Ngige said yesterday: “We have invited ASUU back to the negotiation table. We are hopeful that the government and varsity lecturers will reach a compromise.

“We have some challenges in the university system which we will let ASUU appreciate. There are a lot of issues cropping up in the universities bordering financial indiscipline and misapplication of funds. We need the understanding of ASUU in cleaning the Augean Stable.

“The union is talking of shortfall but the lecturers do not know that the nominal rolls in many varsities have been padded. Some Vice Chancellors with their Registrars and Governing Councils employ through the back door without putting the personnel in the Integrated Personnel Payment Information System (IPPIS). They present different nominal rolls to the government and they now talk of shortfall in salaries.”
September 7, 2017
PDP: Makarfi warns against dragging party to court

Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, Chairman, National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has warned PDP members against dragging the party to court.

Makarfi, who gave the warning on Wednesday in Abuja, while inaugurating caretaker committees for Adamawa and Osun States chapters of the party, declared that members with grievances must exhaust internal mechanisms.

“It is unfortunate that some people still think that going to court is the best way out, even after the Supreme Court’s judgement on the party’s leadership tussle.

“The party will take a very hard stand on any member who is in a hurry to go to court without exhausting the avenues available in the party for grievances to be heard and be addressed accordingly.

“We cannot deny people their fundamental human rights, but the party constitution says that members must exhaust the internal mechanism before seeking external solutions.

“If you are quick in seeking external solutions, the party will not take it kindly,” Makarfi warned.

He commended PDP members, especially where caretaker committees were inaugurated, for their “give and take” posture and sacrifice, and assured party faithfuls that their interests would be accommodated at various levels.

Makarfi advised the newly inaugurated caretaker committees members to carry everybody along, pointing out that PDP was one family.

“At this stage, it is not one side versus the other side.

“The only side that is against us is anybody that takes us to court; it is that person or group that is clearly against us,” he said.

Makarfi, in an interview with newsmen after the inauguration ceremony, decried the politicisation of reports that Nigeria was out of recession.

“The issue should not be politicised; getting out of recession is when people feel secured and can feed and find jobs.

“We can only say we are out of recession when there is adequate infrastructure and students do not find it difficult to pay tuition fees.

“The reality is that, all these complaints are still there. Life is still tough for the poor man. So why should we be clapping and claiming that we are out of recession?

“It is not time to clap. We have nothing to clap for. We have a lot to do. That is what PDP intends to correct when we come to power.

“What we are doing now is to partner with those in power to make sure that the conditions of every Nigerian, especially the ordinary person, is better. We won’t politicise that.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) second quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report as indicating that the country was out of recession.

On the strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Makarfi called on both parties to make peace and specifically advised the Federal Government to do the needful.

Similarly, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Dayo Adeyeye, in a statement, said that the figures of growth rate released by NBS, when compared with inflation rate and population growth, showed that there was nothing to celebrate.

“The report indicated that while the inflation rate was 16.05 per cent, the annual population growth rate was approximately 2.67 per cent per year.

“With such statistics, it is impossible to escape the conclusion that the recovery of the Nigerian economy is weak, feeble and insufficient to herald the sort of celebration we want to indulge in,” he said.

Adeyeye reiterated that the nation was at risk of falling into a more protracted recession if strong and bold monetary and fiscal policies were not activated immediately, to sustain the exit from recession.

He added that there was nothing to celebrate until such economic growth improves the harsh living conditions of ordinary Nigerians.

September 6, 2017
Osinbajo takes over FG, ASUU negotiations, says Ngige

To find lasting solution to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has taken over the headship of the Federal Government negotiation team with ASUU.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige briefed State House correspondents at the end of the FEC meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Ngige also blamed the private sector of being responsible for the delay in announcing the Chairman of the Minimum Wage Review Committee.

According to him, the Federal Government was ready and will announce Chairman of the Committee when all the names of representatives of the private sector is received.

ASUU had embarked on nationwide strike since August 13 over the failure of the Government to implement an agreement it reached with the union in 2009.

The union also alleged that the Federal Government did not implement the Memorandum of Understanding the two sides signed in 2013.

The union, in a statement on Tuesday, said it would call off its strike after receiving a positive response to its demands from the Federal Government.

The union boycotted a meeting which was scheduled to hold between the government and the union on Tuesday.

END (Details later)

August 30, 2017
Strike update: ASUU, Govt meeting fails to hold as union makes counter offer

The much-publicized meeting between the Federal government and officials of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) aimed at resolving the ongoing indefinite strike by the university lecturers yesterday failed to hold as scheduled.

The leadership of the lecturers did not show up for the meeting which was scheduled to commence at 12.00 at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, but The Nation gathered that the meeting was put off at the last minute to due to counter offer received by the government from the leadership of the union.

Addressing newsmen, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige said the meeting had to be put off to enable the government team to consider the counter offer received from the union and to possibly get the nod of the Federal Executive Council on the some of the issues contained in the union’s demand.

The Minister said: “The government as you know has made an offer to ASUU through the ministry of education and late yesterday (Monday) ASUU got back to us with their counter offer. By then, this meeting had been scheduled and the government side needed to deliberate on their counter offer before we can have a reconciliation meeting to further discuss areas of disagreement. That is the position right now.

“We are holding a government side meeting, while, the Minister of Education is also holding a meeting and we will meet later today and formalize our position. Tomorrow is Federal Executive Council meeting and there are aspects that we will need FEC approval to go on with. Thereafter, we will meet with the ASUU team either tomorrow evening or Thursday morning, which ever will be more convenient.”

The President of the Union, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi also confirmed that the union has placed a counter demand before the government and expressed the hope that the union will receive a positive response from the government within the shortest possible time.

In a statement made available to newsmen, the ASUU President said after due consultations with its members on August 17, 2017, meeting with the government, it has collated the views of its members and submitted same to the government.

The statement reads: “Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) were forced to proceed on indefinite, comprehensive and total strike action on Sunday 13th August 2017 following government failure to implement issues, on which understanding was reached during the suspended warning strike of November 2016.

“We have since held talks with Representatives of government and consulted our members nationwide in steps to be taken to immediately resolve the lingering crisis. Among issues in the dispute are registration of , fractionalization of salaries in federal universities and gross under funding/ non-funding of state universities, and arrears and implementation of Earned Academic Allowance.

“Other issues are the release of fund for the revitalization of public universities as spelt out in the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding, guidelines for retirement benefits of professors in line with 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, Treasury Single Account (TSA) and withdrawal of support for universities staff primary schools.

“On Thursday, we met with officials of the Ministry of Education and Labour and Employment where it was agreed that the union should consult and “revert to government”. Following due consultations, we have collated the views of our members on the offers from the government in dispute in the letter of 16th August 2017. These views were submitted to the federal government vide our letter dated 28th August 2017.

“As we await the federal government’s action on our letter, we hope that it would not be long before we receive a positive response which will bring an end to the dispute. Meanwhile, we thank all Nigerians, particularly our students (and their parents) and the media for their understanding so far in the need to speedily address the issues in the best interest of the Nigerian University System and for the overall development t of the country.”

August 29, 2017