ASUU Suspends Strike

 

ASUU President, Biodun Ogunyemi

 

Ajoke Babareke, Abuja 

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government finally came to a compromise on Thursday, resulting in the suspension of the strike embarked upon since November 2018. 

All stakeholders came to the decision after a prolonged meeting, which held at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Abuja.  

Among those who deliberated over the industrial action,  included the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige,  permanent secretary Ministry of Education, Sunny Echonu, former ASUU Presidents, Issa Fagge,  Dr Dipo Fashina, Prof Sule Kano among others. 

ASUU and government had locked horns over issues relating to staff welfare, including the implementation of the needs assessment programme carried out in all public universities since 2009, the university revitalization fund as well as earned allowances. 

During the last meeting between both parties, ASUU was expected to give feedback to the government team after Ngige announced some concessions from the government side. 

But after consulting with its NEC, they continued the strike, throwing the university system into further crisis. 

While the meeting lasted, leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students staged a protest calling on the parties to suspend the strike in the interest of the country. 

Ngige who read the agreement signed by both parties, expressed optimism that the strike would be suspended.

He said, "This is going to be a conclusive meeting and conciliatory meeting between Federal Government and ASUU.

"This dispute culminated into a strike that started on the 5th of November, 2018”.

According to him the parties unanimously resolved about 8 issues which necessitated the strike, noting that of the NUMPENCO has been resolved as ASUU had collected the license on the 28th January, 2019. 

He added that the visitation panel has also been instituted and will commence work on 2nd March with a view to sanitizing the tertiary institutions. 

This according to him was in tandem with anti-corruption campaign.

On Earned Allowances, Federal Government said it released the sum of N20 billion to all categories of Staff in the university system but that it was shoring it up with additional N5 billion for payment of Earned Allowances and others.

"The sum of N25 billion is to be released as Revitalisation Fund between April and May 2019 while we resume full implementation of the MoU signed since 2009"

On the reconstitution of the Federal Government negotiation team, he noted that none of the parties can dictate who to represent the interest of either parties.

However, it was agreed that Government's team should reconvene not later than Monday, 9th and conclude its work on or before 29th March, 2019.

To this end, he observed that ASUU has resolved to brief respective organs with the view to suspend the strike.

On his part, Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU President noted that: "finally we have come up with a document which we have signed on behalf of our members.

"Our members are waiting and you will hear from us later today," he said.

ASUU thereafter proceeded to the premises of the Nigeria Labour Congress, where it announced the suspension of the strike. 

In doing so, Ogunyemi said, "Based on the initial proposals from government, the union consultations through its various organs. 

"The final level of consultations was the meeting of the National Executive Council which took place 6 to 7th February 2019.

"NEC resolved that following a careful review of the report of engagements with the federal government on proposals for addressing all outstanding in the 2013 MOU and 2017 MoA, NEC resolved that the current strike action by the union should be suspended conditionally with effect from 12.01 am on Friday 8th February, 2019. 

"However, should government fail to fulfill its part of the agreement as reflected in the 2019 Memorandum of Action, ASUU shall resume it's suspended strike action as the union deems necessary"