Another strike Looms as there are strong rumours that the
leadership of ASUU might be embarking on another industrial strike
action to pursue its demands before the Federal Government.
Another round of strike action is looming in the nation’s
Universities as academic staff counts down to the deadline for the
implementation of agreements reached with the government which led to
the conditional suspension of its indefinite strike action in September.
The government had signed an agreement with the Academic Staff
Union of Universities as a result of the strike action embarked upon by
the union to press the implementation of the memorandum of understanding
entered into between both parties in 2013 as well as the 2009
agreement.
A timeline of October 2017 was reached between the government and
the unions for the implementation of some components of the agreement,
especially the payment of shortfall in salaries and Earned Academic
Allowances.
But some lecturers informed The Nation that barely one week to the
end of the October timeline, the government has not implemented any
aspect of the agreement, even when they claimed during negotiation that
implementation has commenced.
While suspending their strike action in September, ASUU President,
Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi had said that the union was suspending its action
conditionally to pave way for government to commence implementation of
the agreement, stressing that the union will not hesitate to resume the
action if the government fail to meet its own aspect of the agreement.
One lecturer who would not want his name in print told The Nation that “the
government has not done anything. We have not heard from them and it is
just one week to the end of the October deadline. I can assure you that
we are warming up and there is the possibility that from November 1, we
will resume the suspended action.
“They (government) told our leaders during negotiations that
they have prepared everything for the implementation. They were even
brandishing some papers, especially on the earned Academic Allowance.
But we have not seen anything nor heard from them.
“They were also supposed to carry our verification because of
those who employed workers without permission so that the issue of
shortfall in salary can be addressed. Many of us have been verified, but
nothing has happened. We have not been paid. They should not take us
die a ride because when we resume the suspension action not are not
going to listen to any discussion.
However, ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, however, declined
to say whether or not the union will call out its members at the end of
October if they are not satisfied with the level of implementation of
the agreement.
Prof. Ogunyemi told The Nation over the telephone that members of
the union will determine the next line of action based on the level of
implementation of the agreement reached between the government and the
unions.
He said both parties were making progress in the implementation of
the memorandum of understating signed between them, adding that the
union is still engaging the government and expressed the hope that the
government will keep to their promise.
He said: “We are engaging them and we are making some few
progress and we hope they will keep their promise. Otherwise, our
members are ready to activate their action.
We are still in October, but we are on our guard.
We believe they will follow the process through and implement
it fully. That is why we still engage them and we are talking. We are
working with them and we hope they will continue to cooperate.
Asked whether they will embark on any Industrial action at the end of October, he said “I
cannot say whether there will be any action at the end of October or
not. It is what our members say that we shall do. I hope I am very
clear? Our members shall determine what we shall do at the end of the
deadline based on the level, of implementation”.
The government had promised to meet the demand of the unions with a
promise to release of about N220 billion to the universities not later
than October 2017 to fund the revitalisation of federal universities in
the country and the payment of the shortfall in their salaries as well
as payment of earned allowances which has accumulated.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige who promised
that his Ministry will monitor the implementation the agreement reached
had told newsmen after the conciliatory meeting in September that “We
have concluded negotiations, the government and the leadership of
Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU. The ASUU negotiating team
and the government discuss salient issues and most of those issues are
well-known to the media but for the purposes of clarity, I can go around
the grounds again.
“There’s one funding for revitalization of public universities
and the issue of Earn Academic Allowances, the issue of University Staff
Schools on which that there is a court judgement, the issue of National
Universities Pension Management Company, and the issue of salary
shortfalls for lecturers and staff of universities.
There is the issue of TSA exemption and the problems in the state
universities. All are the issues that ASUU felt that government should
address.
“Most of these issues stemmed from the 2009 agreement that
government had ASUU and also from the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding,
that the government had with ASUU. Government is a continuum, most of
those issues were not issues that cropped up from the Buhari
administration, we inherited them.
“But be that as it may like I said, the government is a
continuum. So we are to really address those issues, we inherited them
but there are issues concerning the welfare of our people. So, on the
issue of funding for the revitalization of public universities, this
negotiating team discussed in detail and extensively on that.
“This is the fund that would be needed for the revitalization
of public universities in terms of their working tools and other things
needed for the effective performance of their duties.
“There was an agreement from the MoU of 2009 and that of 2013,
for government to be making some quarterly payments into this fund. And
from 2014 to date, it has not been possible for the government to pay or
they didn’t pay. But this government has been negotiating with ASUU
since last year. Today, there is a government proposal which we all
agreed id workable.
“But ASUU has to take back this our proposal to their organs,
so we decided that there’s an agreement for government to make some
funds available in September and October to show that they are not
repudiating their agreement and to also show sign of good faith.
“However, because of the inability of the government to pay the
required amount which is at N220 billion, a seven-man committee was
proposed and ASUU leadership is expected to send in three nominees into
this committee. It’s a technical committee so to say, a working
committee and they would send in the three-man nomination, the Minister
of Education will appoint three persons to represent the federal
government and the chairman, making four to bring the number to seven.
ASUU will also send in their proposal for testing terms of reference for
the committee to the minister.
“We expect that that will be done today since today is already a
Friday. This committee is expected to work out the ways and means for
the government and ASUU to actualize the aspirations as per the 2013
MoU.
“This is without prejudice to the Babalakin committee on the
re-negotiation of the 2009 MoU between the Federal Government and ASUU.
“On the issue of Earn Academic Allowances, we have listened and payment has started in that direction.Same with staff schools.
Government is though not appealing, we have agreed that the decision should be conveyed to the various universities.
“The Issue of NUPENCO was addressed and ways have been
fashioned out for the registration of that company. Salary shortfalls
for lecturers and university staff were also addressed and the
government has shown their commitment and evidence that payments have
started in order to liquidate the outstanding allowances.
“The issue of TSA exemption was also discussed and an agreement
or proposal was muted by which the Central Bank would a special account
for that in order for endowment funds and research grants will be
exempted.
“State universities which have been the concern for ASUU and
everybody who has been looking for quality education in the country was
also discussed and the Minister of Education was mandated to take the
memo to the council of state and the Federal Executive Council.
“Based on these discussions, ASUU leadership will consult with
its organs and revert back to government within one week. They will
consult with their organs with a view to calling off the strike.And we
expect them that within one week, they will get back to government.
These are the highlights of the meeting and I can tell you that the
meeting took place in the very cordial atmosphere.”
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