Latest ASUU News On Resumption, ASUU Strike Update Today, 28 June 2022, can be accessed below.
GoldenNewsNg has compiled the latest ASUU news on the current strike embarked by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), a Nigerian union of university academic staff.
This means the latest asuu strike news, asuu strike update today, asuu news, asuu latest strike news, asuu latest news on resumption, asuu strike update and all asuu news stories compiled by GoldenNewsNg can be accessed on this page
Below is the latest Asuu strike update, asuu latest news on resumption and ASUU strike news today, Tuesday, 28 June 2022, compiled by GoldenNewsNg
Strike: Our problem with ASUU – FG
THE Federal Government through the Ministry of Labour and employment, Sunday gave insight into why no unions in the nation’s university system education were invited to last Thursday’s meeting.
FG stated that the meeting was to assess the progress made so far on addressing the few outstanding demands of the striking university workers, such as the contentious payment platform and the renegotiation of their conditions of service.
In a statement by Head, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Olajide Oshundun, lamented that the combative and several unfounded allegations by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU against the government, particularly, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, saying, “all insinuations that the Ministry of Labour does not sympathise with the students, unions and parents, of which the Minister is one, should be disabused.
It noted that “ASUU should know that we are arbitrators and conciliators. We cannot manufacture agreements. Regardless, we are not constrained from listening to the government side and pushing them to do their own bit as quickly as possible.”
FG Reveals When ASUU Strike Will Be Called Off
FG has revealed when the ASUU strike will be called off. Newsone reports that the Federal Government of Nigeria on Wednesday, June 22, said the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities would soon be called off.
ASUU latest news on resumption
We’re not beggars, hunger won’t force us to resume, ASUU tells FG
The Academic Staff Union of Universities has said its members are not beggars and the stoppage of their salaries by the government won’t force them to call off their strike.
The leadership of the union also commended the members for keeping faith with the union despite the hardship imposed on their families as a result of the No-Work-No-Pay directive of the Federal Government.
Following the failure of the government to meet some lingering demands of the union, ASUU on February 14, 2022 announced a one-month warning strike, followed by another eight-week strike before it eventually commenced its indefinite strike.
The continued strike led to the imposition of No-Work-No-Pay by the Federal Government. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, said the directive was in compliance with Section 43 of the Labour Law.
Though some of the demands by the union are still undergoing negotiations, the ASUU President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, expressed optimism that the union was on the threshold of victory.He however noted that the resolve of the union forced the government to engage in negotiations.
ASUU Strike Unnecessary, Says JAMB Registrar
ASUU strike: Pass no-confidence vote in Buhari, HURIWA tells NASS
Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, has called on the National Assembly to pass a vote of no confidence on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
According to the group, the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, which began on February 14, has endangered the security of the country with students being out of classrooms.
This was contained in a statement signed by the National Coordinator, HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, on Wednesday, which noted that students could have been recruited to commit crimes such as terrorism, banditry, Internet fraud, prostitution, and drug trafficking.
The statement read in part, “We call on the National Assembly to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari for letting the ASUU strike linger thereby endangering national security. Everyone knows an idle hand is the devil’s workshop. This is why it is not imaginable that some undergraduate youths would have gone into sophisticated crimes such as kidnappings, cultism, terrorism, and drug trafficking, amongst others.
“The government’s inability to resolve the industrial crisis in the public universities whereby over 70 per cent of youths attend because they are from poor backgrounds is a direct declaration of war on the youths.
“HURIWA, therefore, urged the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to be a man now that he couldn’t get his promised presidential candidacy from the cabal in Aso Rock. He should do the needful and etch his name on the sands of time by impeaching the President.”
ASUU strike: NANS seeks swift resolution
The Coordinator of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone B, Ekanem Utibe, has urged the Federal Government to accede to the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and ensure students return to school.
He spoke during a protest in Akwa Ibom. Utibe urged both parties to swiftly settle their differences and ensure students do not suffer for long.
He noted that if the strike persists, students would be left with no option than to occupy the critical sectors of government agencies.
” It is sad that students are being delayed. A course of four years extends beyond the normal duration. This also results in paying house rent for a longer period of time, getting old and not being able to go for National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) programme; inability to get a job upon graduation, among others,” he said.
Strike: ASUU issue more complicated than Nigerians think —FG
THE Federal Government said, yesterday, that the issue concerning the ongoing strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and three other university-based unions was not as simple as people think.It also approved the establishment of e-learning centres for primary schools across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
Minister of information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the virtual Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Strike: We’re waiting to hear from FG, says ASUU
The striking Academic Staff Union of Universities has said it is awaiting the response of the Federal Government on its demands.
GoldenNewsNg had reported that the Federal Government’s renegotiation committee headed by Prof. Nimi Briggs met with ASUU leadership on Monday in continuation of the renegotiation of the FGN-ASUU 2009 agreements with the four university unions, which are all currently on strike.
The President of ASUU, Emmanuel Osodeke, told our correspondent that the meeting was fair, saying they were expecting the government to respond to the issues they discussed with the committee.
When asked if ASUU would call the strike off soon since it had a fair deliberation with Briggs committee, Osodeke said, ‘‘I don’t know if we are calling off the strike soon. We are waiting for the final response from the government.
“It is a committee of different government agencies. They need to go back to their principal and look at what we agreed on and then get back to us. When they respond to us, we will give you full details.”
He revealed that University Transparency and Accountability Solution is still undergoing test by National Information Technology Development Agency, adding that ASUU has had three meetings with the Federal Government’s committee.
Osodeke also said there was no new invitation from the committee.
He said, “They will call us when they are ready for another meeting, but none for now. We have had about three meetings with them.’’
Strike: ASUU to sanction non-complying chapters
The Academic Staff Union of Universities has threatened to query universities that have failed to comply with its decision to remain on strike while negotiations with the Federal Government continue.
ASUU President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja.
GoldenNewsNg recalls that ASUU had been on strike for the past five months to press home its demands.
The striking lecturers’ demands include funding of the revitalisation of public universities, Earned Academic Allowances, University Transparency Accountability Solution and promotion arrears.
Others are the renegotiation of 2009 ASUU-FG Agreement and the inconsistency in Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System.
NAN, however, reports that since the union embarked on strike, some of its members have pulled out of the ongoing strike to resume their academic activities.
But Osodeke said, “We will punish those who have pulled out from our ongoing strike the appropriate way.
“We will ensure we query them and we will follow it up the appropriate way. We have even queried some of them in accordance with the union’s rules.”
Drama As ASUU President Rejects N50m Intervention To End Strike
There was a mild drama when the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) rejected Berekete Family radio’s intervention to end the ongoing strike.
ASUU has been on strike since February and all efforts to make lecturers return to the classrooms have not yielded results.
On Saturday morning, host of the radio programme, Ahmad Isah, popularly known as Ordinary President, invited ASUU president, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, and his team, to explain to Nigerians the perennial problems and state why the union is still on strike.
Isah also said he had set up a special intervention bank account domiciled in TAJ Bank to raise funds for the union, with a view to ending the strike.
Apparently to convince ASUU to buy into the idea of the intervention, Isah publicly showed the N50 million cash donated by Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State.
Immediately the money was displayed, ASUU President frowned at the development, saying they should not be associated with such.
At that point, Isah threatened to discontinue the intervention and many Nigerians who phoned in during the programme described ASUU as ”insensitive”.
Government Suspends ASUU, SSANU, NASU, ASUP Over Strike
Government has suspended ASUU, SSANU, NASU, ASUP over ongoing strike.
GoldenNewsNg reports that the Edo State Government on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, suspended union activities in all state-owned tertiary institutions of higher learnings in the state.
This online news platform understands that the decision was Peeved by Tuesday’s protest in Benin by students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma over the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions.
A statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Osarodion Ogie after a State Executive Council meeting in Benin sighted by GoldenNewsNg, listed the affected unions as ASUU, Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Non-Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and all allied unions in state-owned tertiary institutions.
The statement noted, “By this notice, academic activities are to resume in all state-owned institutions and all cadre of staff are directed to report to their duty posts immediately.
NLC Urges FG To End Strike By ASUU, Other
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to end the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities and other university-based unions.
The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, made the call in his contributions to the report of the Director-General, International Labour Organisation, during the 110th International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
The conference which opened on Tuesday has the theme: “Social justice, decent work”.
According to Wabba, the NLC has written to the Federal Government on how to end the universities’ workers’ strike.
“We call on the government to bring this strike to an end without further delay,” he said.
Varsity unions, FG renegotiation committee sitting ends today
The university unions’ and Federal Government renegotiation committee sitting will end today.
The Federal Government on March 7, 2022, inaugurated a seven-person committee tasked with the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the other three unions including, The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and The National Association of Academic Technologists.
The committee which was chaired by Pro-Chancellor, Alex Ekweme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Emeritus Professor Nimi Briggs was given three months to conclude the renegotiation with ASUU and other unions.
According to ASUU and SSANU national presidents, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke and Mr Mohammed Ibrahim respectively, the Briggs committee has been meeting with the various unions since May 2022 to renegotiate their agreements.
Strike: ASUU mulls concessions on main demands
With about 72 hours to the time limit the Federal Government gave the Prof. Nimi Briggs Committee to conclude negotiation with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, there are indications that the union may make some concessions in its demands from the government.
Checks by Vanguard, yesterday, showed that this followed the progress being made in the meetings between the committee and the leadership of the union.
Though the concessions may not include overlooking the demands that have financial implications, the union could give more time to the government to meet some demands. A source told our correspondent that both parties still met on Saturday, as the deadline given the Briggs Committee to conclude its assignment would lapse mid week.
He said: “Demands that have financial implications such as the payment of Earned Academic Allowance, Revitalisation Fund, the payment of withheld salaries are not negotiable. There are some areas we may shift grounds but until it is officially done, let us wait.
“Our children and wards are affected too by the strike. How much do we earn to send them abroad or to private universities here?
“We are not insensitive to the welfare of our students and the anxiety of parents. It is the government that is not getting its priorities right. Education is a vital sector that should not be left to rot,” he said.
I won’t release subvention if you don’t pull out of ASUU strike – Makinde tells LAUTECH lecturers
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has said that he will not release the subvention of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, if the lecturers in the institution fail to pull out of the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.Makinde made this disclosure on Saturday.NEWSONE NIGERIA recalls that lecturers at the LAUTECH had joined the ongoing strike.LAUTECH is one of the tertiary educational institutions owned by the Oyo state government.The state government led by Makinde has however threatened that his government will not release the subvention for the university if the lecturers are still on strike.Makinde, who spoke during a live television broadcast on Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State monitored by our correspondent, said that LAUTECH lecturers have no business with the ASUU strike.He said that he deliberately withheld the subvention because the lecturers joined the ongoing strike.He urged the students to hold their lecturers responsible for their inability to be in school.
We’re Still On Strike, Let Your Children Still Be At Home, ASUU LAUTECH Tells Parents
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso branch, has insisted that as far as the lecturers at the state-owned university are concerned, they are still on strike and therefore would not engage in any academic activities until they receive a directive from the national body of the union to do otherwise.
The chairman of the union at the branch, Dr Biodun Olaniran, reaffirmed this position in an exclusive interview with Sunday Tribune.
According to him, academic staff members at LAUTECH are fully participating in the ongoing industrial action as declared by the national body of our union and so shall we continue to stay away from classrooms until the strike is called off also by the national body.
ASUU-AAU admonishes varsity management on dialogue to end strike
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Ekpoma chapter, yesterday, admonished the university’s management to resort to dialogue in ending the prolonged strike rather than blackmailing the union.
The union made the call while reacting to a press statement, entitled “AAU Is Not Militarised! – A Rejoinder” jointly signed by Dr. Cyril Oziegbe Onogbosele and Dr. William Odion, Chairperson and Assistant Secretary of ASUU AAU, Ekpoma, respectively, and made available to journalists in Benin City.
The statement read in part: “The university administration should refrain from the use of force, blackmail, propaganda and falsehood in dealing with the current problems of the university.
“We strongly advise the university administration to embrace peace and dialogue in resolving the problems on ground and return the university to normalcy.”
ASUU strike: Union says discussions with FG’s Briggs committee have been “progressive”
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), announced that present negotiations with the recently constituted committee chaired by Prof. Nimi Briggs has been progressive.
The Union disclosed this in a statement on Friday after its visitation panels submitted reports.
It revealed that negotiations with the committee commenced last week over its demands.
What ASUU is saying
In its statement, ASUU said it met today as its visitation panels submitted reports.
It tweeted, “The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Thursday expressed optimism about its ongoing meeting with the Prof. Nimi Briggs committee, describing the negotiation as being progressive.”
Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, National President of the Union added said the union had been negotiating with the Briggs committee since last week over its demands.
Strike: ASUU meets as visitation panels submit reports
The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Thursday expressed optimism about its ongoing meeting with the Prof. Nimi Briggs committee, describing the negotiation as being progressive.
Speaking in an interview with The PUNCH on Thursday, the National President, ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said the union had been negotiating with the Briggs committee since last week over its demands.
ASUU commenced its ongoing strike on February 14, 2022, after the Federal Government failed to meet some of its demands including, the release of revitalisation funds for universities, renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, release of earned allowances for university lecturers, and deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution
On March 7, 2022, the Federal Government inaugurated a seven-person committee tasked with the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement reached with ASUU, which was chaired, by Pro-Chancellor, Alex Ekweme Federal University Ndufu-Alike.
‘’We are meeting soon; we are having a follow-up, we don’t publicise our meetings, we want to do it quietly and then tell the public our decision,” Osodeke said
Popular Abuja radio anchor set to raise N18 billion to end ASUU strike
An anchor and owner of the popular Human Rights Radio in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ahmed Isah, has announced that he is crowdfunding for the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to return to class.
ASUU and other university workers’ unions have been on strike for almost four months. The unions’ demands, among other things, include better funding for the nation’s public tertiary institutions and improved welfare for their members.
While the government released 34 billion naira for the payment of minimum wage consequential adjustments from 2019, ASUU has maintained that until its core demands are met, it will not suspend the strike.
Mr Isah’s intervention
In a live broadcast on Thursday, Mr Isah, who is the anchor of the Brekete Family programme on the radio station, said he is willing to volunteer to mediate between ASUU and the government.
He also promised to donate N10 million naira to the cause and called on Nigerians to donate into a designated bank account posted on the Brekete Family social media pages and his personal twitter handle.
Mr Isah also announced the donation of N1 million naira by Segun Ogunyanwo, a deputy registrar at the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC).
“Let us challenge ourselves as Nigerians. This is an opportunity for us to test ourselves to know how united we are. Come 2023, this ASUU intervention will give me a sign that, as masses, we are ready to turn things around,” he said on Thursday.
“Your one naira, N1,000 naira, N5000, N10,000 is not too small. No matter how poor you think you are, make sure you contribute something, even if it is one naira.”
ASUU expresses concern over threats, intimidation by varsity management
The Kano Zone of ASUU on Tuesday expressed concern over alleged intimidation and threats against some of its officials by the management of the Kaduna State University (KASU).
Ebonyi Guber Aspirant Offers Solution to End ASUU Strike
A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State, Senator Julius Ucha has called on all political parties that fielded candidates for the 2023 general election to release 50 percent of the monies realised from aspirants to the federal government to use to cushion the effects of the industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Ucha, who made the call in Abakaliki, the state capital, said political parties have collected so much money from the society.
He noted that it was unfortunate that ASUU has been on strike at a time that insecurity has worsened in the country.
According to him, “It’s very unfortunate that ASUU is still on strike. The government is the largest shareholder in education in the country. The incessant ASUU strike has created a social problem. In every family, parents should be happy that their children are in school when they have solved the problem of paying school fees.
“So I’m using this opportunity to appeal to political parties that fielded candidates to release 50 percent of the money they collected from aspirants to the federal government to use it to cushion the effects of the ASUU crisis.”
ASUU: Send students back to school, Orji Kalu tasks FG
Universities and the federal government have been urged to rally around and close ranks so that Nigerian students will leave the streets and go back to classes.
The Senator representing Abia North at the National Assembly, Orji Uzor Kalu, made this plea on Tuesday in a statement on his Facebook page.
He expressed his sympathy for Nigerian students “who against their will are out of school due to the ongoing ASUU strike”.
He said, “I call on the universities and federal government to rally round and close ranks so that our students will leave the streets and go back to classes.
“I sympathise with the students who against their will are out of school due to the ongoing ASUU strike”.
The Senate Chief Whip remembered the past, stating, “while I was the Governor of Abia state (199-2007), primary to university education (in the state) was made free and affordable.
“My government invested a lot in education to encourage people to go to school.
“The states and federal government are supposed to pay strict attention to education. It is irresponsible for any government to deny attention to education sector.”
He added, “Incessant strikes lead to delays in students’ graduation and slows down their life plans and life pursuits”.
Islamic cleric, Jangebe begs FG to negotiate with ASUU
The Zamfara State Commissioner of Religious Affairs and Chief Imam of Muslims Foundation Jumu’at Mosque in Gusau, the State capital, Dr. Muhammad Tukur Sani Jangebe, has urged the Federal Government to as a matter of fact address the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Sheikh Jangebe stated this in Gusau while answering questions from newsmen.
According to him, the strike was seriously affecting the entire teaching and learning system among students and their lecturers across the country.
“The Federal Government should look into negotiating with ASUU and bringing back our children to their respective universities for them to continue with their studies.
“Everyone knows that the contribution teachers are giving to nation building can never be overemphasised and we are calling on the government to provide a mechanism to boost their morale,” he said.
Strike: We’ve resumed talks with FG, say ASUU, SSANU
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions have said the Prof Nimi Briggs Committee is in negotiation with the unions.
Speaking in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday, the ASUU’s National President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, said the union had been negotiating with the Briggs Committee since last week over its demands.
ASUU commenced its ongoing strike on February 14, 2022, after the Federal Government failed to meet some of its demands namely; the release of revitalisation funds for universities, renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, release of earned allowances for university lecturers, and deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution payment platform.
GoldenNewsNg recalls that on March 7, 2022, the Federal Government inaugurated a seven-man committee chaired by the Pro-Chancellor of Alex Ekweme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Prof Nimi Briggs.
The committee, which is expected to review the proposed FGN/ASUU Agreement, has its terms of reference, some of which include; to liaise and consult with relevant stakeholders to finalise the position of the FG to the issues in the draft proposed FGN/ASUU renegotiated agreement; renegotiate in realistic and workable terms the 2009 agreements with other university-based unions, and negotiate and recommend any other issue the committee deems relevant to reposition the National Universities Commission for global competitiveness.
Osodeke said, “We are discussing with the Federal Government through the renegotiation team and we started last week.
“The negotiation is between ASUU and the Briggs Committee and agreement should be negotiated quietly. When we reach an agreement, we will come to the press. We hope this approach/ negotiation will solve the problem so that by next week, we will brief Nigerians. Give us a little time.”
When asked if ASUU would call off the strike soon, Osodeke said, “We don’t know until we finish the negotiation.”
Parents, students express fear over effects, impact of ASUU strike
The prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is causing sleepless nights among parents and students over the future of students in the higher institutions.
They are worried that the strike could affect education in the country. As the strike action by ASUU persists, parents have expressed concern over plights of their wards who are now idling at home.
They are afraid the situation may lead to untoward consequences. For several years, it has become virtually hard for students to graduate in government-owned institutions in record time without an extension to the duration of their courses of study due to incessant strikes.
A parent, Otabor Joy, said it is dangerous to leave youths idle for too long, as it could lead them into unhealthy behaviour, pointing out that “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.”
She lamented that for students, losing valuable time that would have furthered their goals academically is really a pain, warning that they may find their focus shifting, which ultimately may impact their education and development.
ASUP call off strike ( See resumption date)
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic(ASUP) has directed its members to resume work on Monday, May 30, 2022, following the expiration of its two-week strike.
The union said it took the decision following some progress made with the Federal Government regarding its demands.
ASUP, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Abdullahi Yalwa disclosed that the government had met four of its demands.
It said the decision to resume work was to give the federal government more time to meet the remaining five demands.
The statement reads: “The two weeks definite strike of the union will be rounding off on the 29th of May, 2022 as agreed by the emergency meeting of NEC.
“Consequently, the union is requesting
members to resume duties effective 30th of May, 2022 while hoping that government will take advantage of the window to address the five outstanding items.
Strike: Govt stopped our salaries but we’re undaunted – ASUU
The Academic Staff Union of Universities has said that despite the non-payment of salaries to its members, the union remains undaunted in its struggle for a better university system.
Speaking to our correspondent on Friday, the Chairman of the union’s branch at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Dr. Adeola Egbedokun, confirmed to The PUNCH that the Federal Government stopped paying the salaries of striking lecturers since March 2022.
Dr. Egbedokun said, “The last time they paid us was February. Since March, they stopped paying the salaries.”
Another lecturer at the institution also confirmed the non-payment of the salaries.
Speaking further, Dr. Egbedokun said, “We’re used to it. The non-payment of salaries cannot break us.”
When asked about the next move of the union over the ongoing strike and the minimum wage arrears reportedly paid to the lecturers, the Chairman said that the wage arrears were statutory by the law and had nothing to do with their current agitations, saying, “If you observe, ASUU has not said anything about it, we decided not to, it is not the crux of our agitation.”
“What we’re expecting the government to do now is to come forward with a proposal, in response to the submitted renegotiated document, which has been with the government since May 2021. This time, we’re not signing or interested in any Memorandum or Agreement again. Let them come forward with a proposal in response to the renegotiated document, and let’s see how we can consider it.”
Strike: ASUU Reveals Next Line Of Action, Sympathizes With Students
The National President, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, on Thursday noted that the union would not call off the industrial action if the federal government refuse to attend to their demand.
ASUU in its demands has called for the renegotiation of the ASUU/FG 2009 agreement and the sustainability of the university autonomy by deploying UTAS to replace the government’s “imposed” (IPPIS).
Also in its demands is the release of the reports of visitation panels to federal universities, distortions in salary payment challenges, funding for revitalisation of public universities, earned academic allowance, poor funding of state universities and promotion arrears.
Osodeke on Thursday said there won’t be a need to call off the strike despite the federal releasing N34 billion for the payment of consequential adjustment for a minimum wage of workers in the education system.
He further stated that the N34 billion released was not part of their demands.
Osodeke also sympathised with university students over the prolonged strike by the union.
According to Osodeke, the students are suffering for Nigeria’s future and education system.
The ASUU president said the students were not being punished but paying the price to ensure that Nigeria had a good education
ASUU: FG Agrees To Pay N34bn Minimum Wage Arrears
The Federal Government says it will spend about N34 billion as arrears of Minimum Wage Consequential Adjustments in the education sector effective from 2019.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige said that this was aimed at resolving the lingering crisis in the sector, NAN reports.
Ngige made this known while speaking with newsmen on the prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and others on Tuesday in Abuja.
Ngige said that the beneficiaries of the Minimum Wage Consequential Adjustments included the members of the striking ASUU and their counterparts in the polytechnics and Colleges of Education.
According to Ngige, the universities will get N23.5 billion, the polytechnics N6 billion and the Colleges of Education N4 billion, bringing the total sum to N33.5 billion.
The minister, while giving an update on the ongoing strike, said committees were set up during the last tripartite meeting of the government and university-based unions.
He said they were given a fortnight to turn in their report, adding they were still working and the reports of the committees were being expected at the end of the week.
“Those committees are working. The one on NITDA is testing the three platforms, the government’s Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
“Also the University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) of ASUU and the Universities Peculiar Personnel Payroll System (UPPPS) of the non-teaching staff.
ASUU/FG Faceoff: NANS threatens shutdown of major airports
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone D, on Monday, threatened to shut down major airports if the face-off between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government continued.
NANS South West Zone Coordinator, Mr Adegboye Olatunji, made this known in Abuja on Monday, at a protest to the All Progressive Congress (APC) Secretariat in solidarity with Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun to run for a second term.
Olatunji said that it was time both parties came together to resolve the issues leading to the strike as students were at the receiving end.
“We are planning to block government organisations that generate money for them if the ASUU issue is not resolved.
“We have been protesting on this issue by occupying major roads in the South West but we believe if we ground airports, the government will do something about the strike,” he said.
Olantunji said that the student body had dissociated itself from Abiodun’s prosecution and disqualification from contesting the 2023 elections.
He said Abiodun’s education policy remained enviable in the South West region because he’s coming on board had helped in the resuscitation of some tertiary institutions in the state.
We won’t resume – ASUU insists
The Academic Staff Union of Universities has insisted that its members won’t resume work despite the Federal Government’s payment of minimum wage arrears.
This [was contained in a circular by the University of Lagos branch of the union titled, ‘Payment of minimum wage arrears’.
The chairman of UNILAG ASUU, Dele Ashiru, confirmed the authenticity of the circular on Saturday.
Ashiru described the arrears payment as “long-overdue”, saying that the core demands of ASUU have not been met.
The circular read, “The leadership of our Branch has been inundated with calls concerning the recent payment of the long-overdue arrears of the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage.
“Our members are reminded that this is not one of the core demands upon which the ongoing strike action is premised.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the demands of our Union are the conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, abrogation of the fraudulent and corrupt IPPIS scheme and the deployment of UTAS, payment of promotion arrears, the proliferation of State Universities and governance issues amongst others.
That’s the ASUU strike update today, check back for more updates. Also, get more trending Naija news on GoldenNewsNg