The Abuja zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has disclosed that the Federal Government should implement the extant agreements aimed at developing Nigeria’s education sector.
At a news conference in Gwagwalada, Abuja on Monday, November 2, 2020, Prof. Theophilus Lagi, Abuja Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, made this statement to press home the Union’s demands.
ASUU Abuja chapter comprises of the Federal University of Technology, Minna; Nasarawa State University, Keffi; Ibrahim Babangida University, Lapai; Federal University, Lafia; and the University of Abuja.
While speaking, Lagi called for a renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, payment and mainstreaming of earned academic allowances into salaries, the release of funds for the revitalisation of the Nigerian university system, visitation panel to Federal Universities and proliferation of state universities among others.
He pointed out that in spite of the agitations with comprehensive and indefinite strikes to compel the Federal Government to address core demands of the Union; it has, however, not shown any commitment or willingness to address the issues.
His words, “You would recall that the Academic Staff Union of Universities declared a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike after an emergency NEC meeting on March 23, 2020, to compel the FG (Federal Government) to implement the MoA (Memorandum of Agreements) of February 7, 2019.
“To address issues of the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement and provision of revitalisation fund to public universities, earned academic allowances, visitation panel to public universities and proliferation of state universities and governance.
“It is eight months into the national strike, yet the FG has not shown any commitment or willingness to address the core demands of our Union.
“As you are aware, at least three meetings have been held between our union and the government in October through the mediation of the leadership of the National Assembly to resolve the issues in contention.
“Instead of addressing the core issues of the illegal withholding of salaries of Nigerian academics and others, the FG through the Ministers of Labour and Finance, made an extraneous item, IPPIS, the precondition for lecturers’ resumption of duty. The coordinator described as worrisome the stoppage of salaries of its members in February and the forceful migration to IPPIS, using the weapon of hunger and starvation to divide their ranks”.
Lagi reiterated that the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), is better suited for the system, as it recognises all agreements entered into between the government and university-based Trade Unions as well as the UTAS platform ensures simultaneous payments of employees’ salaries and third party deductions like tax, pension, Union dues, cooperatives and bank loans, accountability and transparency.
Comments