We can’t meet ASUU demands- FG

The Federal Government of Nigeria has appealed to striking varsity lecturers to call off the strike and allow for another round of negotiation as the government cannot honour the 2009 agreement it reached with the body.

Labour Minister Emeka Wogu stated this while briefing the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the activities of his ministry. It was at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

“We have made offer to ASUU. It is as complex as presented. Negotiation is ongoing. The National Assembly is equally involved. We believe they will soon call off the strike. I personally and passionately appeal to them to call off the strike.

It will not affect the negotiation, if they call off the strike. It is better for them to be inside than outside. Students have equally appealed to them.

I inherited an agreement signed by the Federal Government with ASUU and that agreement is practically impossible for any administration to implement. We are still discussing with them. If I leave here, I am going to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) where we are meeting with them. I hope that very soon, we will resolve it.”

The nine-point agreement the government entered into with ASUU include: funding requirements for the revitalisation of Nigerian universities; Federal Government’s assistance to state universities; establishment of NUPEMCO; and progressive increase in annual budgetary allocation to the education sector to 26 per cent between 2009 and 2020.

Other components of the agreement are: payment of earned allowances; amendment to the pension/retirement age of academics non professorial cadre from 65 to 70 years; and reinstatement of prematurely dissolved Governing Councils.

Also included in the agreement are: transfer of Federal Government’s landed property to the universities and setting up of research development councils and provision of research equipment to laboratories and classrooms in the nation’s universities.

Students blast ASUU over needless strike

Varsity students in the country have condemned the Academic Staff Union of Universities for embarking on a needless strike.

The leadership of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) has accused striking university teachers of not reaching out to other stakeholders before embarking on their current industrial action. University lecturers began a nationwide industrial action on July 1.

NANS President, Peter Asuquo, criticized the striking lecturers during his address to members of the Senate Committee on Education in Abuja.

He argued that the lecturers failed to consult with students before embarking on the strike.

He said, “We are sad that ASUU has unilaterally decided to embark on yet another needless strike to drive home a point against the Federal Government. Our grievance is anchored on the fact that the ongoing ASUU strike has exerted an even greater negative toll on the students more than any other stakeholder in the impasse. It is our belief that other amicable avenues could be adopted other than a strike to resolve the ASUU/FG standoff. It is therefore our demand that the strike be called off forthwith.”

Chairman of the committee, Senator Uche Chukwumerije called for a quick resolution of the dispute between ASUU and the Federal Government.  He also frowned on incessant strikes in the country.

ASUU: strike continues

The leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has insisted that the ongoing academic strike in the nation's universities will continue until the Federal Government meets the union's demands.
The Coordinator of the Ibadan Zone of the union, Dr Adesola Nassir stated this at a news conference at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Wednesday.

``We as members of the ASUU Ibadan Zone, comprising University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Lagos State University, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, and Tai Solarin University of Education, have resolved to remain on strike.
This we are doing along with our other colleagues nationwide, for as long as it takes the government to be faithful to the implementation of the agreement and commence the process of renegotiating the 2009 agreement.
This is not meant to inflict undue pains on our students, which also includes our members, wives and children, parents and other primary interests.
We cannot continue to relegate the education of our children by devoting a paltry 8.5 per cent of our budget even when most African countries spend about 20 per cent on the average.
We therefore call on parents, students, progressive organisations and all other stakeholders to join our union in the struggle to free our universities and society from the claws of mis-governance, neglect and outright repression,’’ he said.
He said that the government must invest heavily in education if it truly desired a country that would be respected among the comity of nations.
Mrs Oluwakemi Fapojuwo of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, added that, ``What we are saying is that government must show enough commitment about this our system to a substantial level so as to turn around the universities".