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Tag: lecturers

  • 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.”

     

  • Government, ASUU meet Thursday on lecturers demands

    Government, ASUU meet Thursday on lecturers demands

    The meeting between leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU ) and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige aimed at prevailing on the striking university lecturers to call off their strike is to resume on Thursday, the Ministry of Labour has said. 

    The decision to resume the meeting was taken on Tuesday after a meeting between the Minister and the leadership of the union at the Minister’s Confernce Room, Federal Secretariat.

    A statement on Tuesday night signed by the Deputy Director Press in the Ministry, Samuel Olowookere said the the Tuesday’s meeting took significant steps towards the quick resolution of the issues raised by ASUU.

    The statement said that the meeting particularly agreed on the  forensic audit of the sum of 30 billion Naira earlier given to ASUU in 2010 and further agreed  on monthly remittances to ASUU while  the audit lasts. 

    “The Minister hence wishes to assure members of ASUU, in deed all Nigerians that government is already at work   to resolve all outstanding  issues in line with the resolve of the present administration to  cast any form of disruption of universities’ academic calendar into the dust bin of history.”

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  • Fed Govt accuses lecturers of bad faith as ASUU begins strike

    Fed Govt accuses lecturers of bad faith as ASUU begins strike

    ‘It’ll be total, comprehensive, indefinite’

    Situation on campuses

    University teachers are set for major strike, it was announced yesterday.

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) said the strike “will be total, comprehensive and indefinite” to press home lecturers’ demand for improved welfare and working conditions.

    ASUU National President Dr. Biodun Ogunyemi said the union took the decision after a nationwide consultation with its members at an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) on Sunday.

    According to him, there will be no teaching, no examination and no attendance of statutory meetings of any kind in any of the union’s branches during the strike.

    He said ASUU must make the Federal and state governments to implement the provisions of the 2009 Agreement, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of 2013 and the understanding reached in November 2016 in order to lay the foundation for a university system capable of producing a country of our dream.

    Dr. Ogunyemi said: “The foundation of development of any nation lies on its attention to education. No nation can grow beyond the level of its educational development. Any genuine move to transform Nigeria into an economically viable and politically stable country must begin with a firm commitment to an all-round transformation of the country’s education.

    “ASUU has been vociferous on the primacy of the university education system because it is the repository of ideas for invention, innovation and national transformation.

    “Consequently, based on a nationwide consultation with our members, an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU rose on Saturday, 12th August, 2017 with a resolution to embark on an indefinite strike action starting from Sunday, 13th August, 2017.

    ”The nationwide action is total and comprehensive. During the strike, there shall be no teaching, no examination and no attendance of statutory meeting of any kind in any of our branches.

    ”Lastly, we call on all patriots to prevail on owners of public universities to be alive to their responsibilities. Indeed, ASUU struggles should be Nigerians’ struggles.

    The ASUU president also accused the political class of paying lip-service to addressing the rot and decay in Nigeria’s university education.

    According to him, Nigeria is beginning to lose the little gains it had achieved through the struggles of the union, labour movement, the media and other patriotic organisations at salvaging the country’s crisis-ridden public universities.

    ”It is, however, disappointing that despite prime importance of university education, the political class in Nigeria has continued to pay mere lip-service to addressing the rot and decay in the sub-sector.

    ”As things stand, the country is beginning to lose the little gains achieved through the struggles of ASUU, the labour movement, the media and other patriotic organisations at salvaging our crisis-ridden public universities.”

    The Federal Government said yesterday that negotiations were ongoing between it and the union on the issues arising from the 2009 agreement and the MoU of 2013.

    The Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Chinenye Ihuoma, said:

    “If it is on ASUU, just know that the FG/ASUU renegotiation 2009 is ongoing with the government team under the leadership of Dr. B. O Babalakin (SAN).”

    Minister of Education Malam Adamu Adamu, in January inaugurated a 16-member team to renegotiate the 2009 agreement.

    The committee, headed by  Babalakin, was given the mandate to dialogue with the ASUU, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Associated & Allied Institutions (NASU) to ensure sustainable peace and industrial harmony in tertiary institutions.

    The ASUU president said the Wale Babalakin-led committee  lacked the powers to resolve the issue as there were unimplemented items in the 2009 agreement.

    He said government had ignored the system, stressing that the political class had also shifted attention to sending their wards to private universities and universities abroad, leaving public universities to collapse

    ”Among the issues in current disputes involved in the 2009 agreement and 2013 MOU are funding for the revitalisation of public universities and earned academic allowances.

    ”Others include registration of Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company (NUPEMCO), University staff school, fractionalisation and non payment of salaries,’’ Ogunyemi said.

    But the National Parents Teachers Association (NAPTAN) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) faulted the strike. Both organisations said they were not consulted before ASUU declared the strike.

    NAPTAN National President Haruna Danjuma said given the kidnapping of some ASUU members at the University of Maiduguri, the authorities had not done enough to guarantee security of workers and students.

    He said: “Though we were not consulted by ASUU, as parents, we have been in consultation with them to find a lasting solution to their demands.

    “We were shocked by their (ASUU) decision. We parents are not 100 per cent in support of the strike; but in a situation where it involves lives of students and lecturers, we shall not keep our eyes closed.”

    “I understand that students of Bayero State University are meant to start their exams today (yesterday), but with this strike, it no longer looks feasible.

    “As parents, we are concerned about the wellbeing of our children from primary up to university levels.

    “Let government call a roundtable discussion to stop this strike now before things get complicated.”

    CAN National President Rev. Samson Ayokunle said CAN was unhappy about the situation.

    Speaking through his spokesperson Bayo Oladeji, he urged the Federal Government to immediately begin talks with the union.

    He said: “As far as we are concerned, ASUU did not consult us and I do not think they consulted other stakeholders, such as parents and students, before declaring the strike.

    “To us, this is unfortunate. The Federal Government too has not helped matters by playing into their hands. From time to time, we have witnessed situations where ASUU embarks on strikes only for government to beg them to resume with a promise to attend to their demands, but in the end, nothing will happen.

    “Our children are now spending between seven to eight years in universities before they graduate and CAN is not happy about the situation.”

     

  • Expose fraudulent lecturers,students told

    Expose fraudulent lecturers,students told

    The acting Rector of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, Prof. Friday Ezionye Eboh, has assured old and new students of the institution of quality service delivery. This is even as students were challenged to expose lecturers that indulge in sharp practices.

    Eboh, who spoke during the 23rd matriculation of the institution, said that the essence of the quality service delivery was to equip students with the right training and knowledge that will enable them compete favourably and even outsmart their counterparts on the global stage as a result of the training acquired.

    While thanking members of the institution’s tripartite worker’s unions for supporting his administration, Eboh told the students to take advantage of the peaceful and conducive academic environment in the institution.

    To minimise wastages to the barest minimum, Eboh said management has introduced an e-payment system that captures all fees and charges made by the students through the list of approved financial institutions.

    Eboh, who equally thanked the state government for bailing the institution out of its financial and managerial gaps, assured workers that their inconsistent arrears and salaries would soon be a thing of the past.

    “Though challenges remain, rest assured that we won’t be swallowed by them.We should not allow the ugly experiences of the past to becloud our sense of purpose and direction. We must hold tenaciously to global best practices in this enterprise.

    “As part of our efforts to eradicate indiscipline, we have instituted the Ethics and Quality Assurance Committee to report and investigate all cases of sorting and other forms of intimidation by workers. Students now have telephone number of the (acting) Rector to call and report any case.

    “We are currently discussing with one of the service providers on the internet connection to the whole school. We have also populated website with research and other scholarly publications of members of staff,” the rector stated.

  • ASUU demands N2bn damages from Edo CP

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ambrose Alli University (AAU) chapter has asked the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwandu, to pay it the sum of N2bn as damages for allegedly making what it termed malicious and false statement against its members.

    It also demanded a public apology from Gwandu within seven days or face legal action.

    In a Demand Notice through its lawyer, Chief A. B. Thomas, ASUU-AAU said the public apology must be published in at least five national newspapers, and aired in three major television stations in the state.

    The demand notice said a press briefing by the CP was meant to ridicule and denigrate the entire ‘world class credentials of our clients’ in a malicious manner.”

    It would be recalled that Gwandu had in a press briefing denied that men of his anti-cult unit beat and harass Prof. Sunday Edeko, the Dean, Faculty of Law in AAU.

    Gwandu who displayed a letter of apology tendered by Prof. Edeko vowed to arrest and prosecute lecturers in the university found to be sponsoring cult activities in the university.

    He also paraded arms and ammunition recovered from a lecturer in the university and said headless bodies were recovered from a site in Ekpoma after a cult war.

  • Our universities, again

    Our universities, again

    • A case for subsidies

     

    The communiqué issued by the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities at the end of its biennial meeting in Abuja reads like a manifesto on the future of higher education in Nigeria, by a conclave of one of its principal custodians. It deserves careful study and analysis.

    A good many of its prescriptions are all too familiar: full autonomy for the governing councils of universities, not just on paper but in practice; strict compliance by proprietors of private universities with the charters of their institutions; funding universities and tertiary institutions to make them relevant and globally competitive, and providing more government scholarships and bursaries.

    That these prescriptions invariably figure in every discussion of higher education is an indication that they have not been addressed forthrightly.

    The vice chancellors are eminently on solid ground when they challenged their colleagues to deal creatively with the unending labour disputes that often paralyse the campuses of many universities for the better part of an academic year, if not longer. They noted correctly that transparent and accountable management practices would help create a healthier industrial climate on the campuses.

    This calls for communication and consultation, as well as good-faith negotiation on the part of the university authorities and all the unions, not forgetting the student body.

    Some of the issues raised in the communiqué are self-indicting, such as when the vice chancellors urged universities to work out fresh strategies to build linkages with industries, as well as partnerships with the private sector. Examples of such collaboration abound in Germany, the United States, South Africa, and India. The vice chancellors will do well to draw on them to advance the fortunes of their institutions.

    It is even a greater self-indictment for the vice chancellors, principal actors in the scheme of things, to call for a comprehensive overhaul of the education sector “to tackle the decay reflected from the primary to the tertiary level.”

    Why did they not raise an alarm before standards fell so precipitously? Every year, tens of thousands graduate from the universities, only to join the multitude of thousands who had graduated years back but cannot find meaningful work.

    The average university graduate, Professor Charles Soludo declared when he was Governor of the Central Bank, suffered from a deficit of knowledge as well as language skills that rendered him or her unemployable. His was by no means a lone voice. What concrete measures have the universities taken to stem this scandalous slide? What remedies are they proposing?

    There is also the huge deficit in the training of technicians and technologists in manufacturing, building and construction, agriculture, and health. The education authorities need to address this deficit as well. It is a distortion of the nation’s needs when a university degree, any university degree, counts above all else.

    Perhaps the most controversial of the committee’s prescriptions relates to the overarching issue of tuition. The committee said tartly that tuition-free education was “no longer realistic” in Nigeria. In its place, it called for a policy that would have parents, guardians and the government share “equitably” the financial burden of education. It proposed a policy whereby students would pay fees “commensurate with the true value of university education.” Free tuition, it went on, was “incompatible” with sustainable practical and qualitative education.

    Charging such fees would shut out at least one-half of the students currently enrolled in the university system, and the same proportion figure of potential enrollees. It would reduce university education in public institutions to a transactional undertaking. No society that cares for its place in a knowledge-driven future will embrace such a policy.

    There is always an element of subsidy in the provision of social goods such as education and health. For the same reason that no modern society requires patients to pay “commensurate” hospital and treatment fees to stay healthy, no society should require citizens to pay fees commensurate with the cost of educating them.

    In the final analysis, that cost, including the subsidy, constitutes society’s investment in its own future. The more substantial the investment, the richer the harvest, all things being equal

    How much subsidy to provide is the crucial question, not whether to provide it. As vice chairman of the Federal Executive Council during the regime of General Yakubu Gowon, Chief Obafemi Awolowo calculated that the Federal Government was subsidising university education to the tune of 97 percent of the cost. There was, he argued, nothing to lose, but much to gain, from making university education tuition-free.

    Since then, the numbers of universities and student enrolment has exploded, just as the nation’s economic fortunes have declined. But Awolowo’s argument still holds: the public universities are still heavily subsidised, and little value would be added by charging fees that only the wealthy can pay for their wards. Under such a scheme, education would be a privilege, to be enjoyed by the privileged.

    University education should be seen as a social good and an investment. To regard it in any other light is to handicap Nigeria in the global race toward a knowledge-driven future.

    So, let the subsidies continue.

  • Lecturers to access foreign grants as state funding drops

    Lecturers at the Ogun State College of Health Technology (OGSCOTECH), Ilese – Ijebu, are exploring avenues to access grants for capacity development as well as assist the institution meet its core mandate of “teaching, research and community service.”

    This was the thrust of the maiden workshop organised by the college’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), earlier in the month to deliberate on the topic: “Grants, sourcing and management.”

    The chairman, ASUP-OGSCOTECH, Comrade Salako Gbolahan, said the workshop was predicated on the inability of the college to access the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund)’s grants, and inadequate funding of the college by state government.

    Salako, who noted that the workshop was packaged to sensitise members on avenues and procedures to access grants, also urged the management to look inward and devise strategies to raise the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by introducing additional courses to the existing ones.

    He also called on the government to upgrade the institution to the University of Basic Medical Sciences, saying OGSCOTECH which, according to him, is the pioneer state–owned tertiary institution, is long overdue for a full- fledged university.

    A resource person, Prof Kolawole Adebayo, listed three sources – government, private investors and foreign bodies, that provide ample opportunities for institution and academic staff to access grants for human capacity building and infrastructural development.

    Kolawole, who is of the Directorate of Grant Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, said in this part of the world, all attention seemed focused more on government’s direction by persons seeking grants. He lamented that the other two sources which are also veritable and available are rarely explored by many.

    Kolawole explained that many private investors and foreign organisations are in the habit of giving grants ranging from USD10,000 to USD100,000 yearly to people for worthwhile projects.

    He, however, advised that those seeking grants must start early to apply for it, learn the skills of writing grants proposals, learn under the tutelage of experienced hands, develop clear concept and ideas about the topic proposal, share the project ideas with others for cross fertilisation and obey the rule or standard of the grants-awarding organisation to ensure successful application.

    Besides, Mr Olusegun Aninkan, Director, Centre for Entrepreneurship Studies, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, presented a paper on: Conflict resolution and harmonious relationship among academic staff, and urged both union and management to always seek a common ground whenever conflict arises.

  • Polytechnic lecturers begin five day warning strike today

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) will today begin a one-week warning strike to protest  the government’s refusal to honour its agreement with the union and fund the polytechnic sector.

    ASUP National President Comrade Usman Dutse said the union’s one month ultimatum to the government expired in December 2016 without any visible sign of the government willingness to meet the demands of the union, leaving them wig no choice than to embark on a warning strike.

    Dutse said in a statement after an emergency National Executive Council meeting of the union in Abuja that the union had earlier given the government an ultimatum in July 2016, but decide to stay action on their proposed strike because of appeal from the government and renewed the ultimatum in November, 2016.

    He said despite the magnanimity of the union, the government failed to address the issues raised by the union, which include the non implementation of the NEEDS assessment reports, poor funding of public polytechnics, deliberate attempt to frustrate the resolution of the meeting of the council on establishment in July 2016 and victimisation of union members as well as interference in union activities.

    Other issues include Jon release of CONTISS 15 migration arrears, non release of visitation panel reports of federal polytechnic a as well as non release of ministerial panel to federal polytechnic a in Auchi, Oko, Yaba and Ado Ekiti, delay in the review of the federal polytechnic act, non commencement of renegotiation of ASUP/government agreement of 2010 and government’s tardiness in the appointment of Rectors of Federal a polytechnics.

    He said that there was no attempt by the government to improve the funding of public polytechnics in the country as the 2017 budget currently before the National Assembly does not have any provision to that effect.

    He said further that there were attempts to frustrate the decision taken at the National Council on Establishment held in Minna in 2016 directing the removal of the age long entry level dichotomy against HND holders, while no further step has been taken on the issue.

    He also accused the government of not showing any interest in amending the Federal Polytechnic Act, adding that the bill amending the act currently before the National Assembly was the effort of a private member.

  • UNIBEN mourns death of three lecturers in road crash

    UNIBEN mourns death of three lecturers in road crash

    Management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has confirmed the death of three of its lecturers in the road crash that occurred last weekend at Abudu village in which over 22 persons were roasted.

     

    It said the three lecturers were in the Department of Pharmacy and that they were returning from Awka in Anambra State.

     

    Names of the deceased lecturers were given as Prof. Lucky Okunrobo, Head of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Dr. Godwin Joseph, Ag Head Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Dr. Saturday Idemudia, Assistant Lecturer Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology.

     

    A statement signed by Public Relation Officer of the institution, Mr. Micheal Osasuyi, said the university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Faraday Orunmwense, expressed shock over the death of the three lecturers.

     

    The statement said the VC commiserates with families of the deceased.

     

    Meanwhile, the deceased lecturers and other victims of the accident have been given a mass burial near the site of the accident.

     

    Public Relations Officer of the Edo Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, George Otoaviokhai, said the victims were buried last Saturday.

     

    He said the charred victims could not be identified by their families.

  • #ReopenLAUTECH

    #ReopenLAUTECH

    Almost six months after the institution was initially closed over strike by staff protesting non-payment of outstanding salaries, the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho,  has remained shut with the students denied the opportunity of learning.

    The crisis in the university has reportedly further degenerated over lack of necessary funding by the two state governments of Oyo and Osun. While Oyo in whose territory the institution is located is said to be paying part of its dues, Osun has allegedly not been living up to expectations.

    It is really sad that the authorities and owners of the university have not been able to resolve the crisis up till now. While students in other institutions, both public and private, have had their academic calendar uninterrupted, LAUTECH students have been left in the lurch, uncertain of their future.

    Those who should have graduated and joined their colleagues in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) are stuck, while irreparable damage must have been done to the lives of some of the students during the forced holidays.

    The agony that students and staff of the institution have been forced to endure due to no fault of theirs is just unimaginable and one can only hope that reasons will prevail soon as promised by the Oyo State Governor for the university to be re-opened before the end of the year.

    The committee, the governor said, has been sent to the institution to assess the situation and come up with recommendation on what can be done, should urgently do a thorough job that can ensure lasting peace in the university.

    Ordinarily, one would have expected cooperation between the two state governments headed by governors from the same party on this issue, but what is playing out at LAUTECH is a clear case of lack of concern for the plight of the students and lecturers.

    As long as the law establishing the university remains unamended, the two state governments concerned must discharge their responsibilities and not allow the kind of present situation that suggests that they don’t care about education as much as they claim to do.

    If for any reason, any of the state governments is no longer interested in owning the university and cannot afford to pay the required bill, it should declare its position and not give room for unnecessary speculations. Having been set up at a time when the two states were one, there will be nothing wrong to reconsider the continued joint ownership of the institution now that the states have been split and now have other commitments.

    What is playing out in LAUTECH presently amounts to playing unnecessary divisive politics with the future of the students, and all the stakeholders involved must resolve to settle the matter amicably immediately.

    Owning a university is not a joke. It is either state governments, who have the penchants for establishing universities for political reasons, have the capacity to fund them or not. Having established one like LAUTECH, the concerned state governments cannot afford to abandon their responsibilities.

    Education at all levels is a fundamental right which governments at all levels cannot deny its citizens. The time to #ReopenLAUTECH is now.