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Tag: ASUU

  • Only positive response to our demands will end strike, ASUU insists

    Only positive response to our demands will end strike, ASUU insists

    Only speedy and positive response from the Federal Government regarding a letter the  Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) submitted to it would  end the on –  going dispute.
    ASUU said the particular letter was dated August 28, 2017 and bore the position of members on what the FG is offering in respect of the issues in dispute.
    According to the union, the letter followed earlier  meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Education and that of the Labour and Employment where it was agreed that ASUU should consult with members and “revert back to the Federal Government.”
    This position of the union was disclosed in a release by the National President, Biodun Ogunyemi, on update about the nationwide strike and made available to The Nation.
    Ogunyemi identified “registration of Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company (NUPEMCO), fractionalization of salaries in Federal universities and underfunding/non – funding of State universities” as issues requiring resolution between the ASUU and the Federal Government.
    Others are arrears and implementation of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), release of fund for revitalization of the nation’s  public universities as spelt out in the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding, guidelines for retirement benefits of professors in line with the 2009 FGN – ASUU agreement, Treasury Single Account(TSA) and withdrawal of support for Universities’  staff primary schools.
     The ASUU National President, lauded Nigerians particularly, students, parents and the media for their understanding “on the need to speedily address the issues in the best interest of the university system and overall development of the nation.”
    I ASUU proceeded to comprehensive and total strike action on August 13 following what the lecturers alleged as FG non – implementation of the agreement with the academic body.
  • Ngige, Adamu to continue heading FG-ASUU negotiations, says Presidency

    Ngige, Adamu to continue heading FG-ASUU negotiations, says Presidency

    The media office of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo on Friday denied reports claiming that Vice President was now leading Federal Government negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Laolu Akande, said that the reports are inaccurate.

    The reports from the interview by Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, after the Federal had claimed that Osinbajo would henceforth lead the Federal Government into the negotiations.

    But the statement by Akande reads “The Media reports seemed to have misrepresented what Labor & Employment Minister, Dr. Chris Ngige meant when he spoke with reporters about the negotiations after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.

    “The Vice President had a discussion after FEC with both the Labour Minister and Education Minister Malam Adamu Adamu around the issues, but has not taken over the negotiations as widely reported. Both Ministers will continue to lead the FG- ASUU talks.

    “The Federal Government continues to diligently pursue a prompt resolution of this dispute and is confident the matter would be resolved,” it stated.

  • Osinbajo denies taking over ASUU negotiations

    Osinbajo denies taking over ASUU negotiations

    Reports that Vice President Professor. Yemi Osinbajo has taken over negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to end the strike is “untrue,” according to his spokesperson Laolu Akande.

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige was quoted after the Federal Council Meeting (FEC) on Wednesday to have said Osinbajo will henceforth lead the negotiations with ASUU. 

    Ngige said,  “At Council today, the Vice President has taken over some of the aspects of the negotiations and discussions.”

     “So, we are continuing the meeting in his office and when we finish meeting, we will get back to ASUU for another round of meeting and we are hopeful that we will be able to go to an appreciable extent to solve some of the outstanding issues that are preventing them from going back to work.’’

    However, early Friday Osinbajo retweeted a tweet by Laolu Akande, his media aide, debunking the reports.

    The tweet read: “News reports that VP Osinbajo has taken over ASUU negotiations is untrue & inaccurate. Labour & Education Ministers continue to lead d talks.”

    ASUU has been on strike for about two weeks demanding implementation of previous agreements, full payment of salaries and improved government funding of universities.

  • ASUU strike: I have one of my children at home as we speak – Minister

    ASUU strike: I have one of my children at home as we speak – Minister

    To find a lasting solution to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is now to lead the Federal Government’s negotiation team with the teachers.

    ASUU has been on 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 teachers boycotted a meeting scheduled to hold between the government and the union on Tuesday.

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

    Ngige, who was with the Ministers of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola and Sports and Youth Development, Solomon Dalung, also blamed the private sector for the delay in announcing the chairman of the Minimum Wage Review Committee.

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

    He said: “The government thanked the parents and even the students who are supposed to take their exams and promotional exams now but have been forced by circumstances beyond their control to stay at home. I have one of my children at home as we speak.

    “Government is leaving no stone unturned to make sure that we reach a conclusive agreement with ASUU so that they can go back to the classroom. This is the first national strike that this government is facing and we want to discuss.

    “The Vice President has taken over some of the aspects of the negotiations and discussions, so we are continuing the meeting in his office and when we finish meeting, we will get back to ASUU for another round of meeting and we are hopeful that we will be able to go to an appreciable extent to solve some of the outstanding issues that is preventing them from going back to work,” he said.

    The Federal Government, he said, is ready and will announce the chairman of the Minimum Wage Review Committee when all the names of representatives of the private sector are received.

    He said: “The National Minimum Wage Committee, the government side is ready. We have on the government side four ministers – ministers of Labour and Employment, Finance, Budget and Planning.  I can’t remember the last one now but we have our team ready. We also have the Head of Service of the Federation, Acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation on the government team. The chairman will be unveiled when we have full component of the committee.

    “The aspect that is delaying us from inaugurating the committee is the organised private sector. The organised private sector has eight representatives of which the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) has four nominations, we have not gotten their nominations. Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has two nominations; their nominations just came in yesterday. Nigeria Association of Small Medium Enterprise (NASME) has one; they have not sent in their nomination. NACCIMA has not sent in its nominations.

    “So we are waiting fir these nominations. When they come in, the government will nominate the chairman and inaugurate the committee.” he added

    Fashola said FEC approved the award of engineering and electromechanical works contract worth $5.792 billion for the Mambila Hydro Electric Power Plant located in Taraba State.

    Recalling that the project started in 1972, he noted that there has been no significant progress since its inception.

    According to him, the contract now awarded to a joint venture with a Chinese Civil Engineering Company (CCECC) will be completed in about six years.

    On the scope of work to be handled by the firm, the minister said: “The project requires the construction of four dams; one of them is about 150 meters in height, the immediate two are 70 meters in height and the smallest of them is 50 meters in height.

    “It also includes 700 kilometers of transmission line. It will be in Taraba State in the area called Gembu, and it will unleash the potential that have been reported about Mambila, including agriculture, tourism and energy,” he said.

    When completed, Fashola said, the project will help Nigeria strike a big blow on the climate change and fulfill its commitment under the Paris Agreement.

    Explaining how the joint venture will work, Fashola said: “You will recall that sometimes last year, the Chinese government held a summit in South Africa; essentially what that was about was supporting and partnering with African government to do their infrastructure and also funding the Agurua projects. So, this was one of the projects of infrastructure that was submitted there and I think it also had the rail component.

    “The money is coming from the Chinese government through their Exim bank, so it is an export funding support for them and an import funding for us; 85 percent is supposed to be financed by them and 15 per cent is our own counterpart funding. The award now triggers contract negotiations for the financing side and after that is concluded the projects can now start.”

    Mambilla will generate 3,050 megawatts of power. “The productive output will be a function of water supply, because that is the major source of fuel, its a hydroplane,” Fashola said.

  • Osinbajo takes over FG, ASUU negotiations, says Ngige

    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)

  • ASUU gives govt six new conditions to end strike

    ASUU gives govt six new conditions to end strike

    FEC to discuss union’s terms today

    University teachers have presented six new conditions for calling off their two-week old strike.

    But the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, yesterday pleaded with the lecturers to embrace peace for the sake of innocent students.

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) is to discuss today the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and chart the way forward.

    Some of the options include:

    • bringing back ASUU to the negotiation table;
    • allowing the Wale Babalakin Panel to conclude its assignment;
    • suing ASUU to either the Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) or the National Industrial Court (NIC); and
    • referring all issues to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, in line with the Trade Dispute law.

    According to a source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, the six conditions were not part of the previous demands  referred to the Babalakin Committee for arbitration.

    The new conditions are that:

    • the Federal Government should immediately  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

    The source said: “ASUU has brought proposals different from the agreement they reached in the Senate with the Federal Ministry of Education.

    “They are asking the government to take over the shortfall in the salaries of universities when there were glaring cases of abuse of recruitment process and non-compliance with Integrated Personnel Payment Information System (IPPIS).

    “They want the government to accept liability for the shortfall in spite of the fact that universities acted arbitrarily in increasing their wage bill.

    “The lecturers have also asked the government to manage their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) henceforth instead of remitting such to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) in line with their demand for autonomy for universities.”

    But, according to the source, the government does not want to waive the TSA policy for universities. It, however,  expressed readiness to exempt Endowment Funds and Joint Ventures Funds from TSA.

    “In their new demands, the lecturers asked for the issuance of a fiat to the Pension Commission to register the Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company.

    “PENCOM has expressed its readiness to register Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company, if ASUU and other stakeholders can quickly address the lapses already highlighted in the registration process. PENCOM is insisting that the guidelines in the 2005 Pension Reforms Act must be fully complied with,” the source said.

    The the government is said to be shocked by ASUU’s fresh request that the Federal Government should pay University Salary Scale to primary school teachers in varsity staff schools.

    It said: “They are saying that the staff school should be allowed to continue to collect tuition fees.”

    “The government has a different approach to the staff school. Apart from retaining its policy that primary education is free under the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Scheme, the government is of the opinion that teachers in varsity schools be either paid by the Universal Basic Education Commission(UBEC) or be placed under the salary scale of the Federal Ministry of Education or Federal Salary Scale,” the senior government official said.

    “Another demand from ASUU is the release of the guidelines for the retirement of professors in line with 2009 Agreement.”

    Responding to a question, the source said: “We believe that ASUU is trying to be difficult with the new conditions after the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, had conceded N23billion to pay earned allowances of the lecturers.

    “The ASUU strike will be tabled before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday (today). The FEC will weigh options and chart the way forward.”

    Contacted last night, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige said: “They have brought some proposals different from the demands we are already addressing. I want ASUU to toe the path of peace for the sake of the innocent students in our universities.

    “I am asking ASUU to know that this dispute is already apprehended by this ministry. And when we apprehend a dispute, it is necessary for parties to come for talks and consideration of issues.

    “Going by Section 3 of the Labour Dispute law, any further discussion on ASUU demands should be done with the Federal Ministry of Labour.”

     

  • Govt, ASUU meeting put off as union makes counter offer

    Govt, ASUU meeting put off as union makes counter offer

    A COUNTER offer by the leadership of the striking university teachers triggered the last-minute cancellation of a meeting between representatives of the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    The meeting was scheduled to resolve the indefinite strike embarked upon by university lecturers over an alleged breach of agreement by the Federal Government.

    ASUU’s leadership did not show up at the Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment, venue of the meeting slated for 12noon in Abuja yesterday.

    A source told The Nation that the meeting was put off at the last minute due to the counter offer received by government from the union’s leadership.

    Labour & Employment Minister Chris Ngige told reporters that the meeting had to be put off to enable the government team consider the union’s counter offer and to possibly get the nod of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) 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 meeting and we will meet later today (yesterday) and the formalise our position. Tomorrow is Federal Executive Council meeting and there are aspects that we will need the FEC’s approval to go on with. Thereafter, we will meet with the ASUU team either tomorrow (today) evening or Thursday (tomorrow)  morning –  whichever  will be more convenient.”

    ASUU President 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 reporters, the ASUU leader said after due consultations with members after the August 17 meeting with the government, the union has collated the views of its members and submitted same to 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 Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company (NUPEMCO), fractionalisation 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 release of fund for revitalisation 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 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 do far in the need to speedily address the issues in the best interest of the Nigerian University System and for the overall development of the country.”

  • NANS upbeat on ASUU, FG standoff

    NANS upbeat on ASUU, FG standoff

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) says it is looking forward to the resolution of the standoff between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government.

    NANS’ President, Mr Chinonso Obasi, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, urged both parties to engage in constructive dialogue as they meet over the strike.

    ASUU embarked on an indefinite strike on Aug. 14 to demand the implementation of the 2009 agreement with the Federal Government on conditions of service, funding, university autonomy and academic freedom.

    The students association had given the Federal Government a 21 days ultimatum to resolve the issues to enable students return to school or face a total shut of activities across nation.

    “As the Federal Government plans to meet with ASUU on the ongoing indefinite strike, NANS is calling on the parties to engage in constructive engagement.

    “`Such engagement will enable both parties to resolve the lingering issues that led to the declaration of the strike, save the education sector and the future of Nigerian students.

    “Incessant and prolonged strike is one of factors responsible for the falling standard of education in Nigeria apart from the attendant untoward hardship to the students and their parents.

    “Though ASUU had called for an emergency Senate meeting to deliberate on the strike and the way forward before the Federal Government’s call for a meeting with the union, NANS will await the outcome of the meeting to determine the next line of action,’’ it stated.

    The statement urged both parties to put the interest of education and the students at heart as they meet. (NAN)

  • Fed Govt’s team, ASUU meet today

    MINISTER of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige will today by 12 noon meet with the President and executive of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as well as the Federal Government delegation.

    The meeting, according to a statement by the ministry’s Deputy Director (Press), Samuel Olowookere, will include ministers of Education and Finance, Chairman, National Income Salaries and Wages Commission, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission and President, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).

    The statement said the parley is part of efforts at resolving the industrial action embarked upon by ASUU.

    The minister noted that ASUU had earlier promised at the last meeting held on Thursday, August 17, to take the Federal Government’s offer to its members and get back to the government within a week.

    Ngige called on ASUU to show good faith as the Federal Government had already demonstrated commitment to addressing the union’s grievances.

  • ASUU executives meet today to review strike

    ASUU executives meet today to review strike

    THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will today hold a National Executive Council meeting to determine the direction of the ongoing national strike, according to the Premium Times.

    The meeting is coming after national branches held meetings on Wednesday to decide on whether the strike should continue or not.

    All branch chairmen were billed to arrive in Abuja yesterday for the meeting, after which a decision will be communicated to Nigerians.

    The online news medium reported ASUU President Biodun Ogunyemi as promising only to speak after the national meeting.

    “We cannot react now but after the NEC meeting we will speak on the developments,” he told the newspaper on phone.

    Several branch chairmen and officials spoken to reportedly declined to provide information on the decision of their branches on the strike, saying they had been asked not to speak to reporters.

    “We held special congresses today. I cannot divulge outcome of the meeting but we held a meeting on the strike action,” Tomi Damson, secretary of Lagos State University branch of ASUU said.

    The chairman of another branch of the union in a southern university also spoke on the interim report received from the branches.

    “From the Southern part of the country and some parts of the North, universities voted for continuation of the strike; but we cannot tell now until after the meeting of NEC,” the don said.

    The union went on strike on August 13 to protest against poor welfare and poor funding of universities, a move that led to the Federal Government inviting the body for negotiations. ASUU then sent the details of the negotiation to its branches for further deliberation.

    Minister of Education Adamu Adamu had expressed hope that the strike would be suspended this week.

    In a related development, the Ibadan zone of the union has condemned the “continued victimisation of lecturers in University of Ilorin.”

    The zonal coordinator, Ade Adejumo, who said this in a press statement, alleged that the Vice Chancellor of the university, Ganiyu Ambali, was victimising ASUU members in the university, a situation he said could lead to further prolonging the ongoing national strike.

    Attempts to reach Ambali proved abortive as he did not answer phone calls or reply messages sent to him.