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Tag: Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi

  • ASUU laments plights of Nigerian university retirees

    The  (ASUU), Prof Biodun Ogunyemi on Monday lamented the plights of Nigerian university retirees, saying they are often made to pass through harrowing experiences just to collect the pension and benefits that are rightly theirs after active service.

    Ogunyemi said the routine delay in the payment of retirement benefits for universities retirees could be traced to endemic corruption, moral indifference and systematic inefficiency.

    The ASUU President spoke at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State during a “Sensitization Workshop on Implications of Contributory Pension Scheme on future earnings of Academic Staff in Nigeria Universities.

    The workshop was put together by the OOU branch of the ASUU to sensitize members on issues around contributory pension scheme.

    Ogunyemi who was represented by the Zonal Coordinator, Abuja branch, Theophilus Lagi, said it is appalling and disappointing to observe that workers who had diligently served Nigeria “are hardly accorded the respect due to them.

    According to him, university retirees have been subjected “to all manners of inhuman treatment – ranging from monthly shuttles between their locations to State or Federal headquarters to “trace” documents; endless queues at verification centres, sometimes resulting in death casualties.

    He noted  that the need address those challenges informed the calls  for the Nigerian University Pension Management Company (NUPEMCO), which added, has been granted operational license last February to run a separate pension arrangement for the university system.

    READ ALSO: On ASUU strike and truce with FG

    The ASUU President revealed that NUPEMCO has commenced operations after initial challenges, stressing that its philosophy is “rooted in humanism and progressive ideology.

    He said: “Eminent scholars and senior colleagues who retired from the Nigerian University System (NUS) in the last two decades or so have not been spared of these and other forms of undignified treatment.

    “NUPEMCO is an expression of the basic commitment of our Union to the protection of the life and the future of members of the university community. For this reason, it is our duty to nurture it to become the best in the industry,” he said.

    In his address, the Chairman of ASUU-OOU, Joel Okewale said workshop was organized to educate members of the union on the benefits, complexities as well as the roles of the regulatory body in the operation of the scheme.

  • ASUU, FG resume discussion on 2009 agreement

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Wednesday resumed discussion with the team set up by the Federal Government to renegotiate the 2009 agreement with staff unions in universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education based on the principle of collective bargaining.

    The five-man Federal Government renegotiating team has Dr. Olawale Babalakin, as its chairman.

    The meeting, which stated at about 10am, ended at 4pm.

    Babalakin, who is also the Pro-Chancellor of University of Lagos, confirmed the meeting with the ASUU team to reporters at the headquarters of the National Universities Commission in Abuja.

    He said the government team had a positive discussion with ASUU team led by its National President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi.

    He said the government team was hopeful of finalising negotiation with the union.

    Babalakin said: “We have resumed negotiation. The government team and the Academic Staff of Universities were appropriately represented and we had very positive discussion and we actually hope that we are on a good path for finalising the negotiation.

    “There were healthy discussions on topical issues and both sides made extensive contributions for the benefit of the university system. The negotiation, you have to seek the consent of the other party before you make such disclosures.

    “But at the stage of signing an agreement, we will be willing to tell you all the headlines and all the important issues.

    “Both sides are determined to put an end to this. So I reckon that it will happen within the fastest possible time.”

    Asked where the committee was with the renegotiation, Babalakin said: “It is the same negotiation. We had an interlude and that interlude is over and we are now back to where we left it at the time we had the interlude.

    “So it is a continuous negotiation for the betterment of the education system.

    On what the focus of today’s discussion was about, he said: “There are so many issues. ASUU submitted a time table today. If I can speak broadly, there are over twenty issues in that time table.

    “So it is not a singular issue. There are many issues to be discussed and they will all be discussed.

    “I am aware that even before this meeting, there were a memorandum signed with the federal government and that memorandum was presented to us among the papers that we saw. So I believe there is some progress, we just want a comprehensive one.”

    He added that the federal government would find solutions to the issues raised by ASUU.

    However, when contacted, ASUU President, Prof. Ogunyemi, promised to get back to our reporter.

  • Students protest teachers’ strike

    National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS, Zone B), has held a peaceful protest and solidarity walk in Asaba, Delta State. The protesters demanded the immediate end of the lingering strike so as to enable students participate in the general election.

    Recall that on November 4, Academic Staff Union of Universities embarked on an industrial strike following the non-implementation of certain agreements signed with the union bordering on sundry allowances and refusal to fund public universities.

    However, ASUU President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, had earlier sent a congratulatory message informing members that the government had met one of their demands as the union has received the certificate of operation for Nigerian University Pension Management Company, (NUPEMCO), from the National Pension Commission

    The peaceful protest, held across South South and South East regions, was headed by President of NANS Zone B, Comrade Okereke Godson Bishop.  Also in attendance were Students Union (SU) leaders from the region in addition to the leadership of the National Association of Polytechnic Students, whose teachers the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), have also been on strike since December.

    The students reportedly walked from the overhead bridge towards Asaba to the last junction before the state government house. The turnout was massive as mammoth crowd of students chanted solidarity songs and demanded immediate resumption of academic activities that have been paralysed public universities and polytechnics nationwide.

    Addressing reporters, Okereke asked the Federal Government to assent to the demands of ASUU since it would revitalise the educational system.

    He further appealed to the government end the strike before the election so that students that had registered for PVC on campus can exercise their franchise.

    President of Students Union Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) Samuel Frank Chigozie, recalled some hiccups experienced by his members by security personnel who attemted to frustrate them from joining the protest. Despite the challenges, they were still able to join the protest.

    “The Students faced serious opposition from security operatives in Anambra State especially by those who directed that they should shoot any force protesting at sight. This made it difficult for us to go protest at the extent at which we were supposed to; but at the end we achieved our aim and our opinions were held by all.”

    He recalled that he once held the Vice President of Nigerian Mining and Geoscience Societies post.  He also held the position of Financial Secretary Kebbi State Students Association (Kessa) for two sessions and he was also the class representative of his department from the 100-Level through to final year.

    According to him, those engagements affected his grade as a 100-Level student, noting that he weathered the storm in subsequent years.

  • Strike: We’re not aware of FG N15.89bn payment to varsities – ASUU

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says it has not been briefed on the alleged payment of N15.89 billion to universities by the Federal Government, two months after it embarked on strike.

    The union’s National President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.

    The unionist was reacting to reports that the Federal Government had on Dec. 31, 2018, released N15.89 billion to universities.

    The report stated that the fund was for the payment of shortfall in salaries of universities.

    “Well someone actually drew my attention to that newspaper report. I have not received any formal letter from Federal Government, conveying such information to us.

    Read also: N15.89b injection to stop ASUU strike

    “The only information I got from the Minister of Labour this afternoon when we spoke was that they have done something concerning our demands; what they have done, I do not know.

    “The other thing he told me was that there is going to be a meeting between us (ASUU) and government on Monday.

    “It is only when we get to the meeting that we will be able to know what government has done and if it is okay by us, then we will convey same to our members who will now take the next line of action,” he said.

    Recall that members of the union had, on Nov. 4, 2018, embarked on what they had described as ‘comprehensive, total and indefinite nationwide strike’ to press home their demands.

    The striking lecturers were protesting  against alleged non-implementation of agreements they entered into with the Federal Government in 2013 and 2017.

    They were also agitating the poor welfare, poor funding, and general decay in education  infrastructure, among others.

    Since the commencement of the strike, members of the union had met with the Federal Government six times, to find a way forward to the issues, all ending in a deadlock. (NAN).

  • ASUU strike: The root cause of educational decay

    It has been over two weeks since the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked on an indefinite strike and yet nothing meaningful has come out of their meeting with the government concerning the strike. ASUU at its NEC meeting of November 3 and 4, 2018, at the FUTA, resolved to resume the national wide strike action it suspended in September, 2017 and yet nothing tangible has been done to avert the situation.

    Reacting to this, the National President of the ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, said all entreaties made to the federal government to honour the agreement with the union fell on deaf ears and they had no other alternative but to begin the strike action. This is sad news as the strike compels students to stay away from school activities and examination.

    This is a sad turn of event as most students are praying earnestly for the federal government to fulfil their promise to ASUU so that the strike could be called off as they were preparing for their examination and some universities were already writing examination before the commencement of the strike. Many students whose parents could not afford their transport fare back home due to the fact that they were not anticipating the strike and therefore did not make provisions for it are still roaming around the campuses aimlessly.

    There is no gainsaying to acknowledge the efforts tabled by  Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and that of the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, for the efforts they have made so far in seeing that the strike is called off. However, I must confess that their effort is not yielding any good since ASUU and the federal government have not reached an agreement. They should do more by ensuring that the demands of ASUU are met in the shortest time as this will redeem their image in the sight of the students and also print their names in the sands of time.

    • By Aondover Eric Msughter, Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano.

  • ASUU begins indefinite nationwide strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Sunday declared an indefinite and total nationwide strike to protest the poor funding of Nigerian universities.

    The union accused the government of not implementing the Memorandum of Action signed with it.

    Briefing newsmen after its National Executive Council meeting, National President of the ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi said all appeal made to the Federal Government to honour the agreement with the union was ignored.

    Details later…

  • FG, ASUU: Another strike looms over Oct 31 agreement

    FG, ASUU: Another strike looms over Oct 31 agreement

    Another round of strike action is looming in the nation’s Universities as academic staff counts down to the deadline for the implementation of agreements reached with the government which led to the conditional suspension of its indefinite strike action in September.

    The government had signed an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities as a result of the strike action embarked upon by the union to press the implementation of the memorandum of understanding entered into between both parties in 2013 as well as the 2009 agreement.

    A timeline of October 2017 was reached between the government and the unions for the implementation of some components of the agreement, especially the payment of shortfall in salaries and Earned Academic Allowances.

    But some lecturers informed The Nation that barely one week to the end of the October timeline, the government has not implemented any aspect of the agreement, even when they claimed during negotiation that implementation has commenced.

    While suspending their strike action in September, ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi had said that the union was suspending its action conditionally to pave way for government to commence implementation of the agreement, stressing that the union will not hesitate to resume the action if the government fail to meet its own aspect of the agreement.

    One lecturer who would not want his name in print told The Nation that “the government has not done anything. We have not heard from them and it is just one week to the end of the October deadline. I can assure you that we are warming up and there is the possibility that from November 1, we will resume the suspended action.

    “They (government) told our leaders during negotiations that they have prepared everything for the implementation. They were even brandishing some papers, especially on the earned Academic Allowance. But we have not seen anything nor heard from them.

    “They were also supposed to carry our verification because of those who employed workers without permission so that the issue of shortfall in salary can be addressed. Many of us have been verified, but nothing has happened. We have not been paid. They should not take us die a ride because when we resume the suspension action not are not going to listen to any discussion. 

    However, ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, however, declined to say whether or not the union will call out its members at the end of October if they are not satisfied with the level of implementation of the agreement.

    Prof. Ogunyemi told The Nation over the telephone that members of the union will determine the next line of action based on the level of implementation of the agreement reached between the government and the unions.

    He said both parties were making progress in the implementation of the memorandum of understating signed between them, adding that the union is still engaging the government and expressed the hope that the government will keep to their promise.

    He said: “We are engaging them and we are making some few progress and we hope they will keep their promise. Otherwise, our members are ready to activate their action. We are still in October, but we are on our guard. 

    We believe they will follow the process through and implement it fully. That is why we still engage them and we are talking. We are working with them and we hope they will continue to cooperate.

    Asked whether they will embark on any Industrial action at the end of October, he said “I cannot say whether there will be any action at the end of October or not. It is what our members say that we shall do. I hope I am very clear? Our members shall determine what we shall do at the end of the deadline based on the level, of implementation”.

    The government had promised to meet the demand of the unions with a promise to release of about N220 billion to the universities not later than October 2017 to fund the revitalisation of federal universities in the country and the payment of the shortfall in their salaries as well as payment of earned allowances which has accumulated.

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige who promised that his Ministry will monitor the implementation the agreement reached had told newsmen after the conciliatory meeting in September that “We have concluded negotiations, the government and the leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU. The ASUU negotiating team and the government discuss salient issues and most of those issues are well-known to the media but for the purposes of clarity, I can go around the grounds again. 

    “There’s one funding for revitalization of public universities and the issue of Earn Academic Allowances, the issue of University Staff Schools on which that there is a court judgement, the issue of National Universities Pension Management Company, and the issue of salary shortfalls for lecturers and staff of universities. There is the issue of TSA exemption and the problems in the state universities. All are the issues that ASUU felt that government should address. 

    “Most of these issues stemmed from the 2009 agreement that government had ASUU and also from the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding, that the government had with ASUU. Government is a continuum, most of those issues were not issues that cropped up from the Buhari administration, we inherited them.

    “But be that as it may like I said, the government is a continuum. So we are to really address those issues, we inherited them but there are issues concerning the welfare of our people. So, on the issue of funding for the revitalization of public universities, this negotiating team discussed in detail and extensively on that.

    “This is the fund that would be needed for the revitalization of public universities in terms of their working tools and other things needed for the effective performance of their duties. 

    “There was an agreement from the MoU of 2009 and that of 2013, for government to be making some quarterly payments into this fund. And from 2014 to date, it has not been possible for the government to pay or they didn’t pay. But this government has been negotiating with ASUU since last year. Today, there is a government proposal which we all agreed id workable.

    “But ASUU has to take back this our proposal to their organs, so we decided that there’s an agreement for government to make some funds available in September and October to show that they are not repudiating their agreement and to also show sign of good faith. 

    “However, because of the inability of the government to pay the required amount which is at N220 billion, a seven-man committee was proposed and ASUU leadership is expected to send in three nominees into this committee. It’s a technical committee so to say, a working committee and they would send in the three-man nomination, the Minister of Education will appoint three persons to represent the federal government and the chairman, making four to bring the number to seven. ASUU will also send in their proposal for testing terms of reference for the committee to the minister.

    “We expect that that will be done today since today is already a Friday. This committee is expected to work out the ways and means for the government and ASUU to actualize the aspirations as per the 2013 MoU. 

    “This is without prejudice to the Babalakin committee on the re-negotiation of the 2009 MoU between the Federal Government and ASUU. 

    “On the issue of Earn Academic Allowances, we have listened and payment has started in that direction.Same with staff schools. Government is though not appealing, we have agreed that the decision should be conveyed to the various universities. 

    “The Issue of NUPENCO was addressed and ways have been fashioned out for the registration of that company. Salary shortfalls for lecturers and university staff were also addressed and the government has shown their commitment and evidence that payments have started in order to liquidate the outstanding allowances. 

    “The issue of TSA exemption was also discussed and an agreement or proposal was muted by which the Central Bank would a special account for that in order for endowment funds and research grants will be exempted. 

    “State universities which have been the concern for ASUU and everybody who has been looking for quality education in the country was also discussed and the Minister of Education was mandated to take the memo to the council of state and the Federal Executive Council. 

    “Based on these discussions, ASUU leadership will consult with its organs and revert back to government within one week. They will consult with their organs with a view to calling off the strike.And we expect them that within one week, they will get back to government. These are the highlights of the meeting and I can tell you that the meeting took place in the very cordial atmosphere.” 

  • Five ASUU demands FG must meet

    Five ASUU demands FG must meet

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) suspended its five-week long strike on Monday.

    This was after ASUU President Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi told reporters Monday night that they decided to conditionally suspend the strike in view of the timeline of October for the implementation of the signed agreement with the government.  The meeting was a long one with the Federal Government delegation, led by Minister of Labour and Employment Dr. Chris Ngige.

    Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi assured the public that the union would not hesitate to resume the suspended action should the government renege on the newly signed agreement, which he called Memorandum of Action.

    Here are the five demands requested by the Association:

    1. Areas of agreement include funding for revitalization of public universities and the issue of Earned Academic Allowances;
    2. The issue of University Staff Schools;
    3. The implementation of the judgment of the National Industrial Court, National Universities Pension Management Company and guidelines for pension matters for professors;
    4. The exemption offered by the government regarding the issue of TSA, which included the issue of grants, endowment funds as well as salary shortfall, which is already being implemented by the government;
    5. The union also promised to submit a position paper to the Federal Government on their observation with a view for government to advise state governments.
  • ASUU suspends strike, directs members to resume today

    ASUU suspends strike, directs members to resume today

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has conditionally suspended their five weeks old strike embarked upon to press for the implementation of agreements reached with the government.

    It directed its members to return to the classroom with immediately.

    President of the Union, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi who addressed a news conference at about 9.30 pm Monday night after another round of meeting with the government delegation led by the Minister of Labour, Senator Chris Ngige, directed all members of the union to return to work after their branch congresses on Tuesday.

    He said they decided to conditionally suspend the strike action in view of the timeline of October 2017 for the implementation of the signed agreement.

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    He said that the union will not hesitate to resume the suspended action if the government renege on the signed agreement which he called Memorandum of Action, adding that the signed agreement was backed by a definite timeline for implementation.

    He warned that the government must not deliberately dishonor the agreement, pointing out that the continuous breach of signed agreement has been responsible for the constant strike action in the Universities.

    Ogunyemi said that the current agreement with the government is based on mutual trust between the union and the government, adding that the trust of the union must be respected by the government.

    The meeting which started about 4.00pm was supposed to last for about one hour, but dragged for about four hours before agreement was reached on All contending issues.

    Briefing Journalist earlier after the meeting which ended at about 7.55pm, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige said all the gray areas have been sorted out and an agreement reached.

    He said that members of the union had insisted that they were tired of having agreements that are not implemented, pointing out that the content of the agreement was taken from the series of meeting with the union since the commencement of the strike.

    He said further that that both the government and the union understood themselves and agreed in several issues, assuring that the agreement reached will be implemented by the government in line with available resources.

    Areas of agreement include funding for revitalization of public universities and the issue of Earn Academic Allowances, the issue of University Staff Schools and the implementation of the judgement of the National Industrial Court, National Universities Pension Management Company and guidelines for pension matters formProfessors.

    He also said that the union agreed to the exemption offered by the government regarding the issue of TSA, which include the issue of grants, endowment fund as well as salary short fall which he said is already being implemented by government.

    On the issue of state universities, he said they agreed that the union will submit a position paper to the federal government on their observation with a view for government to advise state government on the funding of state universities.

    He describe the union as patriotic members of the society, pointing out that anybody who demand better working equipment is no doubt a patriot.

  • FG, ASUU officials meeting to end strike

    FG, ASUU officials meeting to end strike

    The Federal Government and the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities are holding a crucial meeting that may see the union calling off their five weeks old strike.

    The meeting, according to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige was a continuation of the meeting held between both parties on Friday.

    He added that he was convinced that a concrete agreement will be reached after the meeting that will see the union calling off their strike.

    He reassured them that the Buhari government was a different government committed  to the implementation of all agreements reached with unions.

    “If you go into other negotiations without implementation, this is a different government. That is why we put timeline in all agreement reached.”

    ASUU President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi said as a result of feedback from their members, the union held about eight hours meeting with the government on Friday and came up with concrete areas of agreement.

    He said the ongoing meeting was to agree on a final document so that an agreemn t can be reached by both parties.