The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ASUU

  • ASUU strike: Students protest in Port Harcourt

    Scores of students of the five universities in Rivers and Bayelsa states yesterday staged a peaceful protest in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.

    The protesters barricaded the ever-busy East-West Road at Choba Junction, for several hours.

    The students were from the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT); Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt; Ignatius Ajuru (formerly Rivers State) University of Education, Port Harcourt; the Niger Delta University (NDU), Wilberforce Island and the Federal University, Otuoke, both in Bayelsa State.

    The students, who said they were tired of sitting at home, chanted anti-Federal Government songs.

    There were riot and regular policemen at the scene to prevent a breakdown of law and order. Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and patrol vehicles were deployed in the area.

    The students carried placards bearing various inscriptions.

    Some of the placards read: “FG, respect 2009 agreement with ASUU”; “President Jonathan, you were a lecturer, let ASUU members return to work now”; “Nigerian universities’ students want to return to classroom”; “Politicians’ children are schooling overseas”; “FG must end ASUU strike now”.

    The ASUU Chairman at UNIPORT, Prof. Antonia Okerengwo, told reporters that there was nothing to renegotiate in the 2009 agreement between the union and the government.

    He urged the Federal Government to honour the agreement it voluntarily entered into with ASUU.

    Okerengwo assured that ASUU members would return to the classroom as soon as the Federal Government honoured the 2009 agreement.

     

     

     

  • ASUU warns Suswam over utterances

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam to be mindful of his utterances on the strike.

    Suswam, when hosting the National Union of Benue State Students last week, said the ASUU strike was becoming politised, adding that it was no longer an agitation for the improvement of the lecturers’ welfare.

    But ASUU denied any political connection to its strike, saying there was nothing political in asking for the full implementation of a four-year-old agreement.

    The union said if at all, it was the Federal Government through its propaganda machinery that was politicising the issue by refusing to implement the agreement it signed with the union.

    A statement by the ASUU Chairman, University of Ibadan chapter, Dr. Olusegun Ajiboye, made available to reporters, urged Governor Suswam to guard his utterances and limit his comments to the mandate given him by the Federal Government.

    Ajiboye quoted Suswam as saying: “ASUU has no business continuing with this strike because the Federal Government has met its demands. There is nothing on the list of their demands that government has not touched.”

    According Dr. Ajiboye, ASUU has a legitimate agreement with the Federal Government since 2009, which the government has refused to fully implement.

    He asked the leaders to demonstrate the love they have for the country by withdrawing their children from private universities in the country and abroad and stop travelling abroad for medical treatment, adding that they should use the health facilities in the country.

    The ASUU leader said as members of the intellectual community, they were surprised that the leader of the Federal Government’s Needs Assessment Implementation Committee was losing sight of the reality that there was a difference between an agreement and a demand.

    Reiterating the resolve of the body to get full implementation before going back to the classroom, Ajiboye said ASUU would not allow the Federal Government to mortgage public education.

    He said the political class has been selfish.

    Ajiboye said it was laughable that Governor Suswam could ask ASUU to consider the nation and students when it was ASUU that was fighting to save the nation from maladministration.

    “Are Nigerians heating up the polity when they say roads are bad, health facilities are in comatose and that politicians are sucking the nation dry? Are these not visible everywhere? How can a governor say we should soft-pedal and stop heating up the polity?

    “Our leaders should show leadership and faith in the country by withdrawing their children in foreign and private universities. Governors and other political office holders must also show Nigerians that they can vouch for the quality of health facilities and roads by patronising our hospitals and travelling by road. The roads are so bad that it has become fashionable for our leaders to buy jets. Nelson Mandela was ill and was treated in a Pretoria hospital. Our Governors, President’s wife, Senate President and other political office holders travel out to treat Malaria and undergo medical check up. Yet they do media hype, claiming they have revived the health sector.

    “People die on a daily basis due to insecurity. Who is then heating up the polity? We are patriots in ASUU. We believe Nigeria must work and our children deserve the same quality education, health, and roads, which our leaders and their children have access to abroad, using our collective patrimony,” the union boss said.

  • Suswam: ASUU is misleading Nigerians

    Suswam: ASUU is misleading Nigerians

    Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam has said the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is misleading students and parents on what the Federal Government has done since the negotiations began in 2009.

    Speaking at the Government House, Makurdi, yesterday when he hosted the National Union of Benue State Students (NUBESS), he said the Federal Government has acceded to the demands of ASUU.

    Suswam advised the lecturers to go back to the classrooms for the future of youths.

    Said he “Federal Government has done a lot. It is time ASUU should sacrifice and shift its ground as the negotiation is becoming political.”

    The Benue State governor, who is leading the Federal Government negotiation team, said N100 billion has been distributed for infrastructural development and N30 billion for earned allowance.

    According to him, the criteria for distribution of the funds were adopted with ASUU representative, adding that the projects are to be executed by the universities and their councils.

    He said the earned allowance is only for the federal universities, hence state universities have no business going on strike. Suswam said the Benue State University (BSU) lecturers have been paid their earned allowance.

    He urged ASUU to return to the classrooms as it would not be proper to play politics with the future of students.

    “We asked them to take N30 billion and pay their members, then come back for another money, but they said no, we must give them N92 billion,” the governor said.

    Suswam enjoined students to ask ASUU why it wants to ground education.

  • ASUU misleading Nigerians – Suswam

    ASUU misleading Nigerians – Suswam

    The Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, on Thursday said members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are misleading the students and Nigerians on what the Federal Government has done since negotiations began.

    Speaking at the Government House in Makurdi, when he played host to National Union of Benue State Student (NUBESS) on Thursday, the governor stated that the Federal Government has acceded to all the demands of ASUU.

    He advised them to go back to the classes for the sake of Nigerian youths.

    “The federal government has done a lot and I think ASUU should also sacrifice and shift ground as the whole negotiation is becoming political.”

    Suswam, who is leading the federal government negotiation team with ASUU revealed that the sum of N 100 billion has already been distributed for infrastructural development and N30 billion for earned allowance ”

    According to the governor, the criteria for distribution of funds was adopted with ASUU representatives and stated that all projects are to be executed by the universities and their councils.

    He further revealed that the earned allowance is for only federal universities and as such, state universities have no business going on strike.

    He said Benue State University lecturers have been paid their earned allowance.

     

  • PFN urges ASUU to end strike

    The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has expressed concern over the prolonged closure of public universities.

    In a statement yesterday by the National President, Rev Felix Omobude, in Benin City, the body said it was not unmindful of the uncompromising stance of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) vis-a-vis the Federal Government’s failure to honour the 2009 agreement.

    “While PFN salutes the courage of the leadership of ASUU for its positive position on the need to revamp and reposition the education sector, it is of the view that a need has arisen to bring into sharp focus the brunt the nation is being made to bear for the continued closure of the universities,” Dr Omobude said.

    PFN appealed to the leadership of ASUU not to throw away the baby with its bath water, but should return to the classrooms soon in the interest of parents, students and the nation.

    It enjoined the Federal Government to treasure the integrity that goes with honouring agreements by implementing the agreement with ASUU with candour and commitment, as that would reposition and service the education sector on a continuous basis instead of waiting to be stampeded into action by strikes.

    Omobude urged the three tiers of government to address insecurity and unemployment posing a threat to the country.

    “We advise government to address unemployment, with particular emphasis on youth restiveness,” the PFN national president added.

    He called for prayers, supplications and fasting to ensure peace.

  • All set for varsity games

    All set for varsity games

    The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, has announced the date for the Nigerian Universities Games (NUGA) which it is hosting. The sporting event will hold next month. DHIKRU AKINOLA (400-Level Political Science) writes on the preparations so far.

    Barring any last-minute changes, the 24th edition of the Nigeria Universities Games (NUGA) to be hosted by the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, will begin next month.

    Last Thursday, officials of the university unveiled the logo for the sporting event at the conference room of the OAU Guest House in Ikeja, Lagos. The starting and closing dates of the event were also chosen at the event, which was attended by former Nigerian international Mutiu Adepoju and ex-Super Falcon goalkeeper Ann Chiejine.

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof Bamitale Omole, spoke of the institution’s readiness to host the “best-ever NUGA,” despite the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    The partial suspension of academic activities for the sporting fiesta by the hosting institution underscores the importance of NUGA’s platform to the discovery of talents and promotion of unity.

    Over 60 universities across the country participate in the annual sport festival, which has been an avenue through which youths are engaged to tackle poverty and insecurity.

    Omole said all the events of the games would take place in the university, stressing that the facilities would be ready before the games begins. He commended the Federal Government for releasing the funds for the construction of an Olympic-size swimming pool for the event.

    The games were billed to take place last December but it was postponed because of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the university. In January, the university’s NUGA committees began preparation for the event.

    Recently, our correspondent was conducted round the game facilities by NUGA committee chairman, Prof Bolaji Oluseye, OAU Sports Council chairman, Prof Godwin Isichei and the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Abiodun Olarewaju, to show the readiness of the university to host the games.

    Our correspondent saw the ongoing construction of spectators’ seats for the swimming pool. The construction work was being carried out by an Italian firm. One of the engineers, identified as Alexandra, was seen working on the track lane.

    Prof Oluseye said the track lane would take weeks for completion. He observed that the pool must have, at least, an eight-lane track, adding that the facility could be used to train world-class swimmers in the country.

    The don boasted that the university would cart away all the gold medals in the games given the facilities put in place by the management to train OAU participants.

    Assuring on security of participants and logistics, Oluseye said there were 12 committees to manage the hosting of the event, adding that each committee was working round the clock to ensure a hitch-free fiesta.

    The only game new to OAU team is swimming, Prof Isichei said, adding: “We are going to train our students on this before the event starts and we hope to win some medals in it.”

    He said the OAU team had won gold medals in hockey and cricket, stressing that the institution would repeat the feat in the games.

    On sponsorship, Prof Oluyemi said the institution had partnered with some corporate bodies but added that “our door is still open” to other firms that may want to partner with the school. He noted that accommodation would be provided for participants from other institutions on campus and some selected off-campus halls of residence.

    The Chief Security Officer of the university, Mr Paul Ogidi, confirmed that latest security gadgets had been procured to forestall security breaches during the event. He noted that the management had made efforts to equip the fire service unit to combat any untoward incident.

    Also, CAMPUSLIFE gathered that officers of the police, State Security Service (SSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Command (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Nigerian Red Cross would be on ground to support the school’s security personnel.

    Adepoju, who was named NUGA ambassador, observed that it was necessary to identify with the game, which he said could produce a generation of educated sportsmen in the country. He urged the Federal Government and corporate bodies to support the fiesta to fight youth restiveness.

    Some students, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, said they were looking forward to the games. Kehinde Adefolayemi, 400-Level Economics, said: “I am hoping that the local economy will be boosted by the event.”

    Tayo Ibrahim, an Urban and Regional Planning student, observed that the sporting festival would afford OAU students the opportunity to rob minds with their counterparts from other institutions. “I have the expectation to feel the spirit of oneness during the period, because this is our own Olympic games and I want to experience it. I am anxiously expecting the commencement of the game,” he said.

     

     

     

  • Aliyu to Fed Govt: honour agreement with ASUU

    Aliyu to Fed Govt: honour agreement with ASUU

    •Govt urged to implement pact 

    The Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) and Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, yesterday urged the Federal Government to honour the 2009 agreement reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the interest of the students.

    He frowned at the annual nine per cent national budgetary allocation to the education sector as against the 26 per cent benchmark approved by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

    Aliyu described the development as “unfortunate”.

    Speaking after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UNICEF, he said: “We should not enter into an agreement we know we are incapable of fulfilling.”

    Aliyu said the agreement was binding on the Federal Government and ASUU.

    According to him, “no matter the agreement, once it is signed, we must keep to it.”

    He said it was sad that in the past, university students spent more time than necessary in school due to persistent strikes by lecturers, adding that this is not in the interest of the country.

    The governor appealed to the lecturers to reconsider their stand by going back into negotiation with the government in the interest of their students and the nation.

    The NSGF chair lamented that over the years, the country had not met the 26 per cent budgetary allocation to the education sector, rather a paltry nine per cent had been allocated to the sector.

    Said he: “With all our oil money, it is sad that education gets less than nine per cent of our national budget. It is very sad and unfortunate that our university lecturers are on strike.”

    Governor Aliyu said for the country to join the league of developed nations, education must be given priority.

    He described as unacceptable, a trend where 14 of 19 states in the North have over 70 per cent of their children out of school.

    He attributed the achievements in the Southwest to the vision of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who introduced free education in the defunct Western Region and allocated over 50 per cent of the region’s resources to education.

    The UNICEF’s Country Representative, Mrs. Jean Gough, said with the resources available in the country, there is no justification for any child to be out of school.

    She promised that UNICEF would support Niger State to realise its vision 3:2020, especially in the area of education.

    Lagos lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, has said the only way to save higher education is for the Federal Government to implement the agreement it reached with ASUU in 2009.

    He said unless the agreement is respected, tertiary education is doomed.

    Aturu made the declaration in a statement he issued in Lagos yesterday, titled: “Implementation of FGN-ASUU agreement-the only way to save higher education in Nigeria”.

    He noted: “We may have to return to the suggestion made by Prof. Wole Soyinka many years ago that we should close down the universities and declare a state of emergency.

    “When he first made that suggestion, it looked unrealistic and alarmist. Now, it is clear that we are pretending to have higher education.

    “What takes place in our dilapidated universities is a little better than kindergarten education, if we must be honest with ourselves.”

    Aturu said it was unacceptable that the Federal Government should attempt to bully ASUU to renege on the agreement.

    He said the expenditure profile of the government and politicians does not show that it cannot meet the financial requirements of the agreement.

  • NLC enjoins Fed Govt, ASUU to resume talks

    NLC enjoins Fed Govt, ASUU to resume talks

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has promised to work hard to ensure that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government return to the negotiating table.

    The NLC President, Abdulwaheed Omar, said in Abuja yesterday that there was need to find a lasting solution to incessant strikes to ensure national development.

    He urged the Federal Government and the lecturers to resume negotiations, especially in the interest of the students and the country’s future.

    Omar went on: “We are going to approach ASUU and we are also going to approach the Federal Government to ensure that they resume negotiations.

    “If you look at the trend of the strikes so far, starting from the ASUU strike to the health workers strike and perhaps other strikes, they border on one thing, inability or refusal of the employers, especially in this case, the Federal Government and state governments to fulfil the pledges they made arising from the negotiations entered into and signed.

    “For example, since 2009, there has been a signed agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU. One would have expected that even by showing goodwill, perhaps the lecturers would have seen reason that okay, if the Federal Government agreed that it would be injecting N400 billion into universities every year; if in a year it puts N100 billion in the budget, ASUU would have seen that there is goodwill, government is determined, only that they don’t have sufficient fund to provide the N400 billion. They would have taken it.”

    Hailing the health workers for suspending their strike, he said the recent development, where striking lecturers withdrew from negotiations with the Federal Government, was not healthy for the country.

    “Lecturers have withdrawn from the negotiation. I think it’s not a good thing.

    “Luckily, the health sector has already agreed. They have come to terms and have suspended their strike.

    “My prayer is that the joint implementation committee will be allowed to work and ensure that whatever is agreed is implemented within the given time.”

    In 2001, the Federal Government and ASUU entered into an agreement, which created a room for re-negotiation every three years for impact assessment and implementation.

    The agreement was due for re-negotiation in 2004, but it didn’t take place until 2007 and lasted more than two years to produce the 2009 agreement, which was freely entered into by ASUU and the Federal Government.

  • Aturu to FG: Implement pact with ASUU

    Aturu to FG: Implement pact with ASUU

    Lagos lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, has said that the only way to rescue higher education in Nigeria is for the Federal Government to begin the immediate implementation of the pact it voluntarily reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

    He said that unless the agreement is respected, higher education is doomed in Nigeria.

    Aturu made the declaration in a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday titled: “Implementation of FGN-ASUU agreement-the only way to save higher education in Nigeria.”

    “We may have to return to the suggestion made by Prof. Wole Soyinka many years ago that we should close down all the universities and declare a state of emergency.

    “When the sage first made that suggestion it looked unrealistic and alarmist. Now, it is clear that we are pretending to have higher education.

    “What takes place in our dilapidated universities is little better than kindergarten education, if we must be honest with ourselves,” he noted.

    Aturu remarked that it was unacceptable that government should attempt to bully ASUU to accept its offers.

    He observed that the expenditure profile of the government and politicians does not show that government is unable to meet the financial requirements of the agreement.

    He pointed out that in a country where politicians buy private jets at will and send their children to private primary schools overseas, only the politicians would believe the lie that government cannot afford to fund higher education in the manner requested by ASUU-FG agreement.

     

  • Women threaten to protest ASUU strike

    Mothers in Nigeria, a non-government organisation (NGO), has threatened to protest on the streets of Lagos the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), if the union failed to end the strike by the middle of this month.

    The mothers said they would hold meetings with the university teachers and the Federal Government on the strike, if the union failed top end the strike within the two weeks.

    They promised to meet at the Rita Lori Hotels, Surulere, Lagos, to begin the protest, if both sides failed to reach a compromise within the period.

    The National Chairman, Mothers in Nigeria, Chief Rita-Lori Ogbebor, addressed reporters in her office in Surulere.

    She said: “We, the mothers in Nigeria, are meeting at the Rita Lori Hotels, Surulere, in two weeks to deliberate on the strike, to take the bull by the horn. We shall sit with ASUU and the Federal Government before then to find a away out.

    “Our interest is to see how we all can come together to find a practical way forward. We don’t even want to hear that the government does not have money. Before we protest, we will find out which side doesn’t want to cooperate.”

    The popular hotelier said what the mothers want is to enure that the Nigerian child gets an uninterrupted qualitative education.

    Mrs Ogbebor said Nigerian mothers do not intend to joke with the lives of their children.

    She said the mothers are not politicians, adding that the protest is a project of the nation’s mothers.

    “This is a task that has to be done because if the children are not trained, they will become touts and eventually beat us. We want to pursue everything we think is right for the children, the country and education. Enough is enough. We must now face the facts. If others don’t see the problems, mothers see them. The children are forming gangs and defrauding people through the internet to keep themselves busy.”

    Mrs Ogbebor added that the mothers wanted ASUU to go back to a better academic environment.