The Federal Government on Monday inaugurated a seven-man committee charged with the responsibility of renegotiating the 2009 agreement reached with the Academic Student Union of Universities (ASUU) and other University-based staff Unions.
The committee, which has Pro-Chancellor, Alex Ekweme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Emeritus Professor Nimi Briggs, as Chairman, was given three months to submit proposed draft agreements to the Federal Government.
Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, who inaugurated the committee in Abuja, lamented incessant strike actions by ASUU while expressing optimism that the outcome of the renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement with University-based Unions would engender industrial peace and harmony in public universities in Nigeria.
He recalled that the re-negotiation of the 2009 Agreements between the Federal Government and the University-Based Staff Unions -ASUU, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) & Non-academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU)-commenced on Monday, 13th February 2017.
Adamu, however, noted that as a result of a number of unforeseen circumstances, including but not limited to the COVID-19 pandemic, “the exercise has, unfortunately, dragged on till now”.
He said there was no gainsaying that the earnest desire of every stakeholder in the Nigerian University System (NUS) and, indeed, the nation at large is to conclude this re-negotiation exercise within the shortest possible period.
He, therefore, appealed to the reconstituted Committee to double its effort towards concluding the assignment and producing a realistic and workable draft Agreements that would holistically tackle the challenges confronting the NUS and reposition it to effectively play its very important role in national development.
The Committee, which is expected to review the draft proposed FGN/ASUU Agreement, has the following Terms of Reference: “Liaise and consult with relevant stakeholders to finalise the position of the Federal Government 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.
“Negotiate and recommend any other issue the Committee deems relevant to reposition the NUS for global competitiveness and submit proposed draft agreements within three (3) months from the date of inauguration.”
Other members of the renegotiation committee are Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Wukari, Arc. Lawrence Patrick Ngbale, who represents North East; Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Birnin Kebbi, Prof. Funmi Togunu-Bickersteth, representing South West and Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Lokoja, Senator Chris Adighije, representing South East.
Also on the team are Pro-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Prof. Olu Obafemi from North-Central; Pro-Chancellor, Kano State University of Science & Technology, Prof. Zubairu Iliyasu, representing North West; and Pro-Chancellor, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Mathew Seiyefa from South-South.
Adamu speaking further assured the Committee of the Federal Government’s maximum support and cooperation in the course of the “important national assignment”.
He urged them to conduct the assignment with the seriousness and the urgency it deserves, especially in view of the ongoing industrial action by ASUU, saying they were selected for the assignment based on their track records of invaluable impacts on the development and progress of the NUS.
ASUU is currently on a one-month warning strike which commenced on February 14, 2022, over the alleged failure of the Federal Government to implement the agreements reached with the Union.
Some of the contending issues include the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU/FGN Agreement, improved welfare, revitalisation of public universities and replacement of Universities Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) with the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS) among other demands.
Adamu said: “In nominating the Chairman and members of this Committee, the FGN painstakingly considered your contributions as highly experienced university administrators from the various geo-political zones.
“The Federal Government has also deliberately appointed other relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to serve as Advisers or Observers.
Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Nimi Briggs, in his remark, assured the Minister that the Committee would review the proposed draft Agreement with ASUU and other staff Unions while working assiduously to submit draft document within the stipulated time by the Federal Government.
