Varsities may reopen soon, with the Federal Government making
concessions to the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The
concessions will be tabled before the union’s leaders on Monday at a
meeting to be convened by Labour and Employment Minister Chris Ngige.
The
Minister has reached out to the ASUU leadership for the “robust
feedback session” with the hope that the union will return to the
negotiation table.
Varsity lecturers on November 4, last year, began a strike to push the implementation of the 2017 Memorandum of Action.
The Memorandum was a follow-up to the 2009 FG-ASUU Agreement.
ASUU National President Biodun Ogunyemi attributed the strike to “the insincerity of government in meeting our demands”.
The demands are:
payment of shortfall in salaries of universities;
waiver/ government fiat to set up Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company;
(NUPEMCO);
revitalisation funds for varsities; and
payment of earned academic allowances for lecturers, senior staff and other workers.
But on Monday, the Federal Government succeeded in addressing the demands of the lecturers and other unions.
“One
of the conditions met by the Federal Government was the release of
N15.89billion to universities on New Year’s Eve( Monday) for the payment
of shortfall in salaries of universities,” a source told The Nation.
“The
cash is expected to hit the account of all the institutions on or
before the close of work today (Wednesday),” he added, pleading not to
be named.
“The government has also set aside N20billion as
revitalisation funds for varsities. The National Universities
Commission( NUC) has been directed to work out the modalities for
allocating the funds to all institutions.
“On the demand for the setting up of Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company
( NUPEMCO), the government has directed the National Pension Commission (NUPEMCO) to issue a licence for the company’s take-off.
“Funds have also been set aside for Earned Academic allowances for lecturers, senior staff and other workers.”
Replying
a question, the source added: “This agreement was inherited by the
administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, but despite the lean
resources available to the government as a result of the fall in oil
prices, we have done our best to meet ASUU demands.”
Ngige said: “We have gone far in considering the demands of the lecturers. We have substantially met the conditions.
“I
am meeting with ASUU leaders on Monday where all steps taken by the
government will be tabled before them. This is a responsive and
transparent government, we have done our best to meet the conditions.
“In
fact, officials from the Ministry of Budget and National Planning will
be at the next meeting with ASUU leadership where they will be briefed
on facts and figures.
“We are hopeful that the actions taken by the government will be acceptable to ASUU for our schools to reopen.”
ASUU
Chairman in the Southwest Zone Dr. Deji Omole denied knowledge of any
updates on the union’s negotiation with the Federal Government.
Omole,
who is also the Chairman, University of Ibadan chapter , told
Akelicious that the government was yet to call another meeting in the
ongoing negotiation since over two weeks ago.
He said the negotiating committee was awaiting announcement of a new date for talks.
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