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Tag: Samson Ugwoke

  • SSANU, NASU, NAAT suspend strike

    The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Non Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities has suspended its three months strike.

    Mr Samson Ugwoke, JAC Chairman, said this while briefing newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The Non-Academic staff Union of Nigerian are made of the Non Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities ( NASU ), Senior Staff Academic of Nigerian Universities ( SSANU ) and National Association of Academic Technologists, ( NAAT ).

    It would be recalled that the unions had embarked on an indefinite strike on Dec. 4, 2017 over failure of the Federal Government to fully implement 2009 Agreements and various Memoranda of Terms of Settlements.

    The Federal Government recently said it would source for eight billion naira within five weeks to settle the unions.

    Ugwoke said that the decision to suspend the strike was due to an agreement reached with the Federal Government that within a period of five weeks’ that their demands would be implemented.

    According to him, we hereby announce the suspension of the strike action embarked upon by the Joint Action Committee of NAAT, NASU, and SSANU with effect from today, March 14, 2018.

    “We have therefore directed our members to resume work on Thursday, March 15, 2018.

    “We, however, wish to state that the strike is only suspended and we shall not hesitate to resume the strike if government reneges on the agreement reached or delays in any aspects.

    “We are resuming with one eye closed. We trusted the government before and they failed, this time around, if they fail, the outcome and reaction will be grievous to the system.

    “We also appeal to our members to be more dutiful and conscientious at their duty posts and show more commitment towards covering the lost ground occasioned by the strike,‘’ he said.

    Ugwoke said that the understanding that was reached, gave five-week period for implementation on payment of a fraction of the arrears owned on Earned Allowances to members and report of progress made in respect of CONTISS 14 and 15 for Technologist.

    The JAC chairman also said that the issue of staff schools was to be taken up by the Ministry of Education with the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission to ensure that they complied with the National Industrial Court ruling.

    He explained that on the issue of Visitation Panels to Universities, it was agreed that there would be follow up and the report would be presented in five weeks’ times.

    “The fact that the government side had now develop the courage to commit itself in writing via yet another Memorandum, we resolved to revert to our various organs and give a feedback to the world today,‘’ he said.

    He, however, commended the Minister of Labour and Employment for facilitating the reconciliation, Minister of Education, House Committee on Tertiary Education and Services and other stakeholders for their supports.

    NAN

  • FG to source N8bn to settle SSANU, NASU, NAAT

    The Federal Government says it will source for eight billion naira within five weeks to pay the Joint Action Committee ( JAC ) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities ( NASU ).

    Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, said this at a resolution reached at a conciliation meeting with the Non-Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities in Abuja.

    The Non-Academic staff Union of Nigerian are made of the Non Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities ( NASU ), Senior Staff Academic of Nigerian Universities ( SSANU ), National Association of Academic Technologists, ( NAAT ).

    The resolution was jointly signed by Ngige, NAAT President, Mr Sani Suleiman, NASU General Secretary, Mr Peters Adeyemi , SSANU President Mr Samson Ugwoke and Prof. Anthony Anwukah, Minister of State for Education.

    Ngige also said that part of the eight billion would also be used to pay members of the Academic Staff Universities ( ASUU ), University of Nigeria, Nsukka ( UNN ), and the University of llorin ( UNILORIN ), who were not paid at the last disbursement.

    He also said that the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission was to rework the Dec. 15 Call Circular on University Staff Schools.

    “This is taking into consideration the observations of JAC of NAAT, NASU and SSANU with a view to ensuring that it complies with the National Industrial Court ( NIC ) judgment.

    Ngige also said that the Federal Ministry of Education reported that the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation has started payment of salary shortfalls, adding that the process was still ongoing.

    He said Ministry of Education was to synergise with the concerned institutions to ensure compliance with Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit ( PICA ) requirements to facilitate payments of JAC members in the universities that are yet to comply.

    The minister, however, said on the issue of the non-implementation of CONTISS 14 and 15 for technologists, the Ministry of Education has made submissions to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

    He said that the submission was for onward transmission to the National Council on Establishment ( NEC ) meeting slated for March 18, in Owerri, adding that the Ministry of Education is expected to report the outcome in five weeks.

    Ngige also said the Ministry of Education had put forward an application for the visitation panel to the presidency and that the main trust of the visitation was to re-energise the institution, unearth corruption, among others.

    He said that it was also agreed that the Ministry of Education would set in motion appropriate machinery for the release of White Paper in respect of the previous visitation panel already with government.

    He also added that no worker would be victimised on account of the industrial action.

    Ngige said that government and JAC leadership have agreed that the ongoing strike would be suspended by March 14, after due consultation with their National Executive Councils ( NECs ).

    NAN

  • Strike: UniAbuja chapter of SSANU seeks NASS intervention

    Strike: UniAbuja chapter of SSANU seeks NASS intervention

    The University of Abuja ( UniAbuja ), chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities ( SSANU ), has called on the National Assembly ( NASS ) to intervene in the ongoing industrial dispute between it and the Federal Government.

    Members of Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising Non-academic Staff Union of Universities ( NASU ), SSANU and National Association of Academic Technologists ( NAAT ) have been on strike over Federal Government’s failure to pay their earned allowances.

    The strike commenced on Dec. 4, 2017.

    A statement by SSANU’s National President and Chairman JAC, Mr Samson Ugwoke, on Wednesday in Abuja, said that the leader of UniAbuja chapter of SSANU, Malam Hassan Shallangwa, had presented a letter requesting the intervention of lawmakers.

    He said that the letter was presented to Mr Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of House of Representatives, through his Special Assistant Media and Publicity, Mr Turaki Hassan.

    “The Federal Government, through its relevant Ministers, have refused to dialogue with the unions and are pretending that all is well in our campuses, but we believe that it is only the National Assembly that can call them to order in the interest of Nigerian Education

    ‘’The strike we embarked upon since Dec. 4, 2017 has been crippling almost all activities on our campuses, yet the government remained passive about it, ’’the statement quoted Shallangwa as saying.

    Ugwoke expressed JAC’s dismay that the N23 billion paid by the Federal Government was cornered to pay the Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU ) “for their Earned Academic Allowances.”

    He said that the three non-teaching staff unions were left with N4.6 billion (11 per cent), as earned allowances.

    NAN

  • UNILAG postpones 2017 convocation

    UNILAG postpones 2017 convocation

    The University of Lagos ( UNILAG ), on Tuesday said it had postponed its convocation ceremony for the 2016/2017 academic session.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe who disclosed this in an interview with our reporter in Lagos said that a suitable date for the ceremony would be announced in due course.

    The university, in a statement earlier issued , had stated that a news conference to announce activities lined up  for the event had been slated for Feb. 14.

    “Yes, after some deliberations with management, the university has decided to postpone the convocation ceremony.

    “This is as a result of the challenges posed by the on-going strike embarked upon by members of the non –academic labour unions of universities.

    “The ceremony was earlier scheduled to hold from Monday, Feb. 19 to Thursday Feb. 22 .

    “The activities of these unions have the potential of snowballing and marring the carefully laid out arrangements already put in place for the ceremony,’’ he said.

    Ogundipe stated that though arrangements for a successful ceremony were already at an advanced stage, the institution would not give room for anything that might cause any form of inconvenience or embarrassments to invited guests.

    “The university remains committed to providing a conducive atmosphere that would foster quality teaching and research as well as produce graduates that can compete with their counterparts globally.

    “Hence, members of the community are enjoined to continue their lawful activities,’’ the vice-chancellor said.

    Members of the unions, the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities ( SSANU ), the Non Academic Staff Union ( NASU ) and the National Association of Academic Technologists ( NAATS ), had embarked on strike on Dec. 4, 2017.

    The unions, under the aegis of the Joint Actions Committee (JAC), were protesting among other issues, the non-implementation of agreement they entered into with the Federal government in 2009.

    They were also protesting the sharing formula of the N23 billion released by the Federal government as part of earned allowance of workers of federal universities across the country.

    The National President of the JAC, Mr Samson Ugwoke, had while declaring the strike in December said it would be ‘comprehensive, total and indefinite’.

    NAN

  • Unilag postpones candidates’ screening

    Unilag postpones candidates’ screening

    Strike by non-academic staff of universities  has compelled the University of Lagos ( Unilag ) to postpone screening of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination ( UTME ) candidates which was billed to start on Monday.

    The screening, earlier scheduled to end on December 15, is for the 2017/2018 academic session.

    In a statement signed in Lagos by Mrs Taiwo Oloyede, a Senior Assistant Registrar of the institution, Unilag said that the screening was postponed indefinitely.

    It said that the strike disrupted academic and administrative activities in the university.

    JAC began the strike also on Monday.

    “The postponement is indefinite; a new date will be announced. “Candidates are enjoined to check the university’s website regularly for updates,” it said.

    Reports say the strike was embarked on by the three non-academic labour unions in the university.

    The unions are Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities ( SSANU ), Non Academic Staff Union of Universities and Associated Institutions (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists ( NAAT ).

    The three unions downed tools under the aegis of the Joint Action Committee ( JAC ).

    Read also: Buhari urges universities to justify governments’ investment

    Meanwhile, the National President of SSANU, Mr Samson Ugwoke, said the strike was comprehensive, total and indefinite.

    According to him, the strike resulted from Federal Government’s failure to take action on the September 20 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with the unions.

    “It is not just the issue of allowance that we are talking about but also the issue of implementation of a court judgment on our staff schools as well as the issue of acute shortfall in workers’ salaries.

    “Most of our people were laid off unjustifiably; they are yet to be reinstated in the university’s payroll.

    “We are tired of being tossed around or seen as not important in the running of the university. We are as important as any other union within the system and need to be given that recognition.

    “After several negotiations with the government, we expected that it sees the need to honour whatever agreement reached, but the reverse is the case,” he said,’’ Ugwoke, also the Chairman of the JAC, said.

    According to the union leader, activities in Nigerian public universities would be paralysed until JAC achieves its aim.

    A former Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities ( SSANU ), Prince Oriwaye Adefolalu, said JAC would not call of the strike until its demands would were met.

    “This morning, we had to shut the gate of the University of Lagos in compliance with a directive from our national executive committee.

    “We are indeed not happy with what is going in our universities. We should be seen as a very critical component in the administration of the universities.

    “While ASUU is in charge of research and academics, we are in charge of the administration, security, medical and general maintenance of infrastructure in the system.

    “We should be treated fairly as there is no way the university can work perfectly without us.’’

    NAN

  • SSANU, NASU, NAAT to commence indefinite strike Sept. 11

    SSANU, NASU, NAAT to commence indefinite strike Sept. 11

    Non-teaching staff of Nigerian Universities under the auspices of Joint Action Committee ( JAC ) says it will embark on indefinite strike from Monday, Sept. 11 over non-implementation of the 2009 agreement.

    The unions are made up of the National Association of Academic Technologists ( NAAT ), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions ( NASU ) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities ( SSANU ).

    A statement jointly signed by Mr Sani Suleiman,  Mr Chris Ani and Mr Samson Ugwoke, Presidents of NAAT, NASU and SSANU made this known in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Ugokwe said that the Federal Government was taking the non-teaching staff of universities for granted as it had breached the implementation of agreement of 2009 and Memorandum of Understanding signed with JAC in January 2017.

    He said the unions had waited for eight years for the government to implement the agreement it freely entered into with them.

    According to him, eight years after the agreement, government has not been responsive to the demands of the unions and no action appears to have been taken on any of the issues.

    “Our demands includes, the payment of earned allowances to our members, a review of the governance system in our universities.

    “Improved funding in line with UNESCO recommendations, provisions of infrastructure in universities and payment of salary shortfall being owed members.

    “Implementation of the National Industrial Court judgment on University staff schools, registration of NUPEMCO, implementation of CONTISS 14 and 15 for technologists, improvement of teaching and learning facilities in the universities.

    “Stemming the tide of corruption in the university system, showing more commitment and seriousness in the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/University unions agreement, among others,” he said.

    He said that during the strike, there would be no provisions of services, no matter how skeletal.

    He said that concessions would not be granted “while all our members are to stay at home till further notice unless as directed by JAC through their respective presidents.”

    He, however, noted that the unions had engaged in various consultations and dialogues with government on the issues at stake and had written several letters and embarked on several protest to no avail.

    Ugwoke said that several representations made by the unions  had been ignored by the government.

    “Rather than address the demands of the union as contained in the agreement, universities have continued to deteriorate.

    “Also, poor governance system has become the order of the day and has brought the universities to their knees,” he said.

    He also alleged that corruption had taken its toll on the university system, while infrastructure and facilities were nothing to write home about, among others.

  • SSANU expels 13 members from UNIUYO

    SSANU expels 13 members from UNIUYO

    The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) on Sunday announced the expulsion 13 of its members in the University of Uyo chapter for allegedly contravening the association’s constitution.

    The National President, Mr Samson Ugwoke, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the 57th quarterly zonal meeting of SSANU western zone held at the Lagos State University (LASU).

    Ugwoke said the expulsion took effect from May 2.

    According to him, the members were expelled for disrespecting the association’s constitution and for giving the school authorities of the university false information about SSANU.

    According to him, the expelled members gave the university authority false information, which led to the association being denied permission  to hold its election in Uyo.

    He said that the erring members had insisted that the electoral committee should use the 2004 or 2011 constitution instead of the amended 2016 document.

    “The recalcitrant members felt they are more than the association by refusing to respect the constituted authority of SSANU.

    “They refused to obey the supremacy of the constitution and also refused to obey the National Executive Council of the association.

    “You cannot be questioning the constitution of an organisation you claim to belong.

    “They were part of the national delegate conference where the constitution was passed ratified.

    “The conference, which hold once in four years, amended the constitution in 2016 while another one is bill to hold in 2019-20, when you can amend a constitution again,” Ugwoke said.

    Earlier, Mr Saheed Oseni, Chairman of LASU-SSANU told the NEC that 44 members of the association that were sacked by former Vice Chancellor of LASU, Prof Joseph Obafunwa, have been reinstated.

    He also highlighted some of the achievements of the association to include payment of the 17 months’ salary arrears and the implementation of five-year single tenure for vice chancellor among others.

    He commended the institution’s management, especially the vice chancellor, Prof. Olarewaju Fagbohun for his benevolence towards the staff welfare.

    NAN reports that SSANU Western zone comprises of universities in the western part of the country.

  • Members suspension: SSANU issues 2-weeks ultimatum to Plateau varsity

    Members suspension: SSANU issues 2-weeks ultimatum to Plateau varsity

    The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), has given the management of Plateau State University, Bokkos, a two-week deadline to withdraw the suspension of its officials in the institution.

    The institution’s management had suspended Messrs Timnan Rimdap and Dusu Sambo, the interim chairman and secretary of the local branch of SSANU, for three months, in letters signed by its Registrar, Amos Mallo, and dated Jan. 27.

    Rimdap is the head of the ICT unit, while Sambo is a staff of the academic planning unit.

    The letters had hinged the suspension on management’s dissatisfaction with the duo’s responses to queries that bordered on indiscipline and union matters.

    Various communications on the issues culminated in the suspension of the officials, who were barred from entering the school unless permitted by the Vice Chancellor, Registrar or Chief Security Officer.

    Miffed by the suspension of its members, SSANU’s national headquarters, in a letter dated March 1, 2017 and signed by its National President, Mr. Samson Ugwoke, demanded “an unconditional withdrawal of the suspension letters”.

    It also demanded that the officials be immediately recalled to their duty posts, and “an end to the intimidation and harassment the duo had suffered over time”.

    SSANU also asked the school to commence the deduction and remittance of check-off dues of members, in line with the Trade Unions Act, 2005 as amended.

    The union accused the management of being “confrontational to the association”, and particularly wondered why it had refused to allow the union to operate freely.

    It also wondered why the management should insist on re-registering SSANU in the school, pointing out that such function was exclusively the duty of the Registrar of Trade Unions in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

    SSANU described the suspension of the officials over their involvement in the union’s activities as “illegal and simply unacceptable”.

    Contacted, Prof. Doknan Sheni, the university’ vice chancellor, said that he would not be able respond to SSANU’s deadline “where I am now”.

    “Sorry, I cannot talk to you right now,” he said in response to a text message.

    But the university’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. John Agams, said that he was aware of the letter, but did not know if it had been delivered to management officially.

    “As of yesterday evening, such letter had not reached the university, but I do not know if it has been received this morning (Tuesday),” he said.

    He said that he could not speak much on the contents, adding that it was for management to decide.