Senate yesterday passed a resolution asking Senate President David Mark to engage President Goodluck Jonathan and officials of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to end the four months strike that has shut Nigerian universities since July.
Senate also appealed to the striking university lecturers to suspend the industrial action to allow room for negotiations, in order to resolve the stalemate.
Senate resolution to empower Mark to lead the negotiation team with government and ASUU was based on a motion sponsored by a record 108 members, who fervently appealed to ASUU to call off the strike.
After an exhaustive debate of the motion, during which senators agreed that the agreement ASUU signed with government in 2009 was not implementable because of the cost implication, directed its committee on education to liaise with the Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC), ASUU and other stakeholders on how to proffer solutions and stem further strikes.
Mark blamed government officials, who represented government to sign the agreement with ASUU. His words: “It showed the level of people the executive sends to go and negotiate with ASUU.
“The Federal Government should call those it sent to sign the agreement because it was obvious those sent did not know their right from their left and ASUU took advantage of that to sign the agreement. It is obvious that it would be difficult to implement the agreement.”
Mark also took a swipe at the acting Minister of Education, Nysom Wike, for saying that the strike would soon come to an end in a few months, adding: “The statement of the minister was totally uncalled for and insensitive to the situation on ground.”
He, however, pleaded with ASUU to shift grounds on its demands and noted: “There is no winner and no loser as long as the strike continues and nobody will win; all of us will lose.”
Earlier, Senate Education Committee Chairman, Uche Chukwumerije, in the motion informed his colleagues that the major demands of ASUU, as contained in the agreement, included payment of post-graduate allowance; teaching practice and industrial training allowances and honorarium.
Other allowances being demanded by the striking lecturers were post-graduate grants; external excess workload allowances; housing allowance; sabbatical allowance; sick leave allowance; injury allowance; provision of office accommodation; car allowance and funding of universities.
Senator Olusola Adeyeye, who is also a former lecturer, kicked against the demands of ASUU and explained that majority of the allowances being demanded were frivolous and not applicable anywhere in the world.
He said the economy of the country could not support the number of universities currently in operation and advocated for the introduction of education tax for all workers to fund education, adding: “But we must not allow the money to be consumed by bureaucracy.”
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Thursday, October 24, 2013
ASUU Strike Would End In Few Days Not Months If FG Respond -Lecturers
The Education Minister, Mr. Wike said Tuesday that the face-off between the Federal Government and ASUU would be resolved in few months.
Reacting, however, ASUU leaders argued that the strike could end in next few days and not months if only the Federal Government had the political will to implement the 2009 agreement it made with the union.
Stakeholders in the education sector, yesterday, took the supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike to task over his declaration that the on-going strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, would be called off in a few months.
The Senate on its part appealed to ASUU to call off the strike, blaming government negotiators for being ignorant by signing an agreement that could not be implemented.
Similarly, Committee of Vice Chancellors and Registrars of private Universities in Nigeria said it had commenced moves to wade into the face-off with a view to ending the strike.
Mr. Wike said Tuesday that the face-off between the Federal Government and ASUU would be resolved in few months.
Reacting, however, ASUU leaders argued that the strike could end in next few days and not months if only the Federal Government had the political will to implement the 2009 agreement it made with the union.
The Chairman of ASUU Chapter of the Niger Delta University, Dr. Beke Sese said “We were surprised when we heard the comment, because we believe that the strike can end in 24 or 48 hours if the government has the political will to do it.
“It is not that we want the strike to go on much longer, but the issues on ground are more pertinent than days or weeks.”
Dr. Adesola Nassir, the chairman ASUU, Ibadan zone said the only way the minister’s assertion could hold water was if the Federal Government was ready to honour the agreement it had with the union in 2009.
Nassir said: “My only guess is that the supervising Minister of education and the Federal Government must be ready to do what is right and implement the 2009 agreement, because that is the only solution to bring an end to the strike.
“All we have seen from the government in our different meetings is begging; government begging us to keep patching up the education sector so we can continue to churn out half-baked graduates as a result of lack of infrastructure.
Reacting, however, ASUU leaders argued that the strike could end in next few days and not months if only the Federal Government had the political will to implement the 2009 agreement it made with the union.
Stakeholders in the education sector, yesterday, took the supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike to task over his declaration that the on-going strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, would be called off in a few months.
The Senate on its part appealed to ASUU to call off the strike, blaming government negotiators for being ignorant by signing an agreement that could not be implemented.
Similarly, Committee of Vice Chancellors and Registrars of private Universities in Nigeria said it had commenced moves to wade into the face-off with a view to ending the strike.
Mr. Wike said Tuesday that the face-off between the Federal Government and ASUU would be resolved in few months.
Reacting, however, ASUU leaders argued that the strike could end in next few days and not months if only the Federal Government had the political will to implement the 2009 agreement it made with the union.
The Chairman of ASUU Chapter of the Niger Delta University, Dr. Beke Sese said “We were surprised when we heard the comment, because we believe that the strike can end in 24 or 48 hours if the government has the political will to do it.
“It is not that we want the strike to go on much longer, but the issues on ground are more pertinent than days or weeks.”
Dr. Adesola Nassir, the chairman ASUU, Ibadan zone said the only way the minister’s assertion could hold water was if the Federal Government was ready to honour the agreement it had with the union in 2009.
Nassir said: “My only guess is that the supervising Minister of education and the Federal Government must be ready to do what is right and implement the 2009 agreement, because that is the only solution to bring an end to the strike.
“All we have seen from the government in our different meetings is begging; government begging us to keep patching up the education sector so we can continue to churn out half-baked graduates as a result of lack of infrastructure.
ASUU:NLC says it may declare solidarity strike, to meet Sambo today
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has warned that it may soon declare solidarity strike in support of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
NLC President, Abdulwahed Omar, gave this hint on Wednesday in a communique issued at the end of a National Executive Council (NEC).
According to him, if all efforts at resolving the industrial crisis fails, the NLC would then be left with no choice than to join the strike.
He also disclosed that leadership of the Congress would be meeting with the Vice President, Namadi Sambo in Abuja Thursday over the ongoing face-off.
He said: “The organs of Congress have spoken and have directed the intervention of the Congress towards resolving the matter.
“This is why the leadership of Congress would be meeting with the Vice President tomorrow (today) with ASUU so that we can find amicable solution to the disagreement. We have not said we will not declare sympathy strike if the need be.”
Omar further lamented the alleged non payment of entitlements of disengaged PHCN workers, saying, “we will resist this move because it is against the privatization law that stipulate the settlement of all labour matters before privatization of any public utility.”
He added that labour was in support of the probe of the Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah over the purchase of N255million armoured cars.
NLC President, Abdulwahed Omar, gave this hint on Wednesday in a communique issued at the end of a National Executive Council (NEC).
According to him, if all efforts at resolving the industrial crisis fails, the NLC would then be left with no choice than to join the strike.
He also disclosed that leadership of the Congress would be meeting with the Vice President, Namadi Sambo in Abuja Thursday over the ongoing face-off.
He said: “The organs of Congress have spoken and have directed the intervention of the Congress towards resolving the matter.
“This is why the leadership of Congress would be meeting with the Vice President tomorrow (today) with ASUU so that we can find amicable solution to the disagreement. We have not said we will not declare sympathy strike if the need be.”
Omar further lamented the alleged non payment of entitlements of disengaged PHCN workers, saying, “we will resist this move because it is against the privatization law that stipulate the settlement of all labour matters before privatization of any public utility.”
He added that labour was in support of the probe of the Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah over the purchase of N255million armoured cars.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Strike: It is impossible to meet ASUU’s Demands –FG
Federal Government on Tuesday repeated its call on the striking university teachers to return to work in the interest of students and prevent further damage to the education system.
Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, made the call during the ministry’s monthly press briefing in Abuja.
He said government had conceded to most of the demands made by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and wondered why the union would not budge in the interest of the nation.
“No nation can move forward if we all expect government to give 100 per cent time and effort to our problems. We run an economy that needs attention in all phases,” the minister said.
He said government’s commitment to resolve ASUU crisis was further demonstrated by its representation by Vice President Namadi Sambo in the ongoing dialogue.
Maku explained that the strike was not for salaries but for allowances, as salaries had been increased.
According to the minister, “Salaries have been increased by 54.3 per cent which is half of our monthly income but they still insist on their N100 billon allowance.
“Government offered N30 billion but after a meeting with the Vice President, government promised another N10 billion, making it N40 billion.
“Government has also promised N100 billion from Education Trust Fund and the N40 billon allowance has already been paid in many universities, yet they are still under lock and key,” he added.
The minister also stated that no government had cooperated with ASUU the way the present government was doing.
The minister, however, sympathised with students now at home and called on parents and Nigerians in general to appeal to ASUU to go back to the classrooms.
Meanwhile, placard-carrying members of ASUU, Niger Delta University (NDU) chapter, protested in Yenagoa on Tuesday, decrying the Federal Government’s refusal to implement the 2009 FGN/ASUU pact.
Police authorities in the state denied the aggrieved university teachers permission for street protest but limited them to the confines of the university’s Law Faculty in the Bayelsa State capital.
Chairman of NDU ASUU, Beke Sese, who addressed reporters, also disclosed that the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Governor Seriake joystickson quizzed him few hours to the planned protest on Tuesday morning.
Some of the placards brandished by the lecturers carried inscriptions like, ‘Not every child can go to Ghana to study’; ‘Agreement is Agreement’; ‘Government save our universities’; ‘Poor people’s children need universities’; ‘Can your child afford to go to Ghana and Malaysia, if no then join ASUU to better our universities.’
Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) between 1996 and 2001, Muzanli Jibril, on his part attributed the incessant strike by ASUU to deficiencies in officials appointed by government to negotiate with the unionists.
He said more often than not government enters into negotiations with ASUU officials unprepared, noting that engaging former academics who have held positions in government could have been able to foster better understanding of ASUU, its strike and strategies.
Jubril also said ASUU by its tradition has been able to link significant improvement in funding to strikes, which has translated into “one ASUU strike, one major increment.”
The ex-NUC scribe spoke at the anniversary lecture to mark NUC @ 50 + 1 in Abuja on Tuesday, where he said each industrial action by the union was hinged on funding.
“Government enters into negotiations with ASUU unprepared, if the government does its part, there would be no need for ASUU to embark on strike.
“The attitudes of successive governments have not helped matters as it has made the union to realise that it can only get what it wants by embarking on strike.
“The major problem causing the industrial actions is the ‘chronic under-funding’ of the institutions,” Jibril added.
Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA) on Tuesday also in a resolution urged the university teachers to call off their strike in the interest of the students and the nation in general.
The resolution was sequel to the consideration of a motion on the ASUU strike brought onto the floor by Majority Leader, Philip Shaibu, under Matters of Urgent Public Importance.
Chairman of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Parents Forum, Babatunde Majekodunmi, has, however, appealed to ASUU members to bring their four-month-old strike to an end in the interest of students nationwide.
Reacting to President Goodluck Jonathans call in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday on the striking lecturers to bring the lingering crisis to an end, Majekodunmi in a telephone interview with Daily Independent explained that the parents’ forum will not rest until the crisis is resolved.
He said the forum had made a lot of positive moves in talking to the lecturers to maintain truce so that students who are the major causalities of the lingering crisis can return to classrooms for academic learning.
Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, made the call during the ministry’s monthly press briefing in Abuja.
He said government had conceded to most of the demands made by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and wondered why the union would not budge in the interest of the nation.
“No nation can move forward if we all expect government to give 100 per cent time and effort to our problems. We run an economy that needs attention in all phases,” the minister said.
He said government’s commitment to resolve ASUU crisis was further demonstrated by its representation by Vice President Namadi Sambo in the ongoing dialogue.
Maku explained that the strike was not for salaries but for allowances, as salaries had been increased.
According to the minister, “Salaries have been increased by 54.3 per cent which is half of our monthly income but they still insist on their N100 billon allowance.
“Government offered N30 billion but after a meeting with the Vice President, government promised another N10 billion, making it N40 billion.
“Government has also promised N100 billion from Education Trust Fund and the N40 billon allowance has already been paid in many universities, yet they are still under lock and key,” he added.
The minister also stated that no government had cooperated with ASUU the way the present government was doing.
The minister, however, sympathised with students now at home and called on parents and Nigerians in general to appeal to ASUU to go back to the classrooms.
Meanwhile, placard-carrying members of ASUU, Niger Delta University (NDU) chapter, protested in Yenagoa on Tuesday, decrying the Federal Government’s refusal to implement the 2009 FGN/ASUU pact.
Police authorities in the state denied the aggrieved university teachers permission for street protest but limited them to the confines of the university’s Law Faculty in the Bayelsa State capital.
Chairman of NDU ASUU, Beke Sese, who addressed reporters, also disclosed that the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Governor Seriake joystickson quizzed him few hours to the planned protest on Tuesday morning.
Some of the placards brandished by the lecturers carried inscriptions like, ‘Not every child can go to Ghana to study’; ‘Agreement is Agreement’; ‘Government save our universities’; ‘Poor people’s children need universities’; ‘Can your child afford to go to Ghana and Malaysia, if no then join ASUU to better our universities.’
Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) between 1996 and 2001, Muzanli Jibril, on his part attributed the incessant strike by ASUU to deficiencies in officials appointed by government to negotiate with the unionists.
He said more often than not government enters into negotiations with ASUU officials unprepared, noting that engaging former academics who have held positions in government could have been able to foster better understanding of ASUU, its strike and strategies.
Jubril also said ASUU by its tradition has been able to link significant improvement in funding to strikes, which has translated into “one ASUU strike, one major increment.”
The ex-NUC scribe spoke at the anniversary lecture to mark NUC @ 50 + 1 in Abuja on Tuesday, where he said each industrial action by the union was hinged on funding.
“Government enters into negotiations with ASUU unprepared, if the government does its part, there would be no need for ASUU to embark on strike.
“The attitudes of successive governments have not helped matters as it has made the union to realise that it can only get what it wants by embarking on strike.
“The major problem causing the industrial actions is the ‘chronic under-funding’ of the institutions,” Jibril added.
Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA) on Tuesday also in a resolution urged the university teachers to call off their strike in the interest of the students and the nation in general.
The resolution was sequel to the consideration of a motion on the ASUU strike brought onto the floor by Majority Leader, Philip Shaibu, under Matters of Urgent Public Importance.
Chairman of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Parents Forum, Babatunde Majekodunmi, has, however, appealed to ASUU members to bring their four-month-old strike to an end in the interest of students nationwide.
Reacting to President Goodluck Jonathans call in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday on the striking lecturers to bring the lingering crisis to an end, Majekodunmi in a telephone interview with Daily Independent explained that the parents’ forum will not rest until the crisis is resolved.
He said the forum had made a lot of positive moves in talking to the lecturers to maintain truce so that students who are the major causalities of the lingering crisis can return to classrooms for academic learning.
Atiku, 215 Others Sign Petition To End ASUU Strike
Two hundred and sixteen Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora have signed an online petition asking the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities to end the industrial dispute which has kept public universities shut for four months.
The petition launched on change.org, a go-to site for web protests, is asking President Goodluck Jonathan and the National President of ASUU, Dr. Nassir Faggae, to reach an “amicable consensus.”
In the petition entitled, “Mr. President and the Academic Staff Union of Universities: Please End the ASUU Strike now,” the petitioners said the Presidency should stop playing politics with education of the Nigerian youth.
The petition read in part, “Since the ASUU strike began, it has been over half a semester, a lot in the life of students waiting at home, not knowing when the strike will be over. The future of Nigeria is at stake. Stop playing politics with education.
“It is urgent we send a message that it is long past time for the FG and ASUU to reach consensus and get students back to school by ending this strike.”
A majority of non-students who appended their signature to the petition noted that they joined the online protest with a view to crying out to ASUU and the FG to consider poor students whose parents cannot afford the luxury of sending them overseas to study like the sons and daughters of political office holders.
Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, joined other students and concerned Nigerians clamouring for a speedy end to the crisis rocking the higher education sector.
Atiku, who featured the link to the petition signing website on his Twitter handle, wrote, “We should never play politics with education. Our future depends on it. It is time for the FG and ASUU to reach a consensus and get students back to school by ending this strike.”
An Abuja-based post-graduate student in one of the public universities in the country, Mubarak Jubrin, expressing his dissatisfaction, wrote: “I am stuck with a semester to finish my Master’s programme. The FG should be doing everything possible to rescue the one institution left that is working towards producing better human beings who will shape the future of our dear country.”
Noting that prolonged shutting down of public universities is a dangerous omen for the society and development of the nation, a Kaduna-based student, Tarik Abubakar, also said Nigerians students were being denied their rights to education.
“Students in other countries are enjoying their rights to education. I am pleading with the FG and ASUU to settle their issue and call off the strike,” Abubakar stated.
A Nigerian student studying at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, Godspower Onwudiwe, lamented that the industrial action paints a bad picture of Nigeria on the international scene.
Onwudiwe stated, I feel so sorry for my beloved country because these incessant strikes are a barrier to her general development. Also, as a student in the Diaspora, it paints a very pitiful and shameful picture on our international identity.
“I cannot wait to not only see this strike end but also the end of future strikes to the detriment of the future of this generation and our country at large.”
Jemima Gana, who was moved to sign the petition because she believes that the status quo needs to change as the prosperous future of Nigeria depends on quality education, which is being threatened by the strike.
Gana, who according to the information she provided on the site, is based in Lagos, said Nigerian students need a stable learning environment devoid of strikes for them to be able to compete globally.
“It is so important to me because it is high time the FG took the value of education seriously and in high regard. Students in Nigeria need a stable environment to acquire knowledge and graduate on time in order to contribute their skills to the growth and development of this great nation,” she wrote.
The petition launched on change.org, a go-to site for web protests, is asking President Goodluck Jonathan and the National President of ASUU, Dr. Nassir Faggae, to reach an “amicable consensus.”
In the petition entitled, “Mr. President and the Academic Staff Union of Universities: Please End the ASUU Strike now,” the petitioners said the Presidency should stop playing politics with education of the Nigerian youth.
The petition read in part, “Since the ASUU strike began, it has been over half a semester, a lot in the life of students waiting at home, not knowing when the strike will be over. The future of Nigeria is at stake. Stop playing politics with education.
“It is urgent we send a message that it is long past time for the FG and ASUU to reach consensus and get students back to school by ending this strike.”
A majority of non-students who appended their signature to the petition noted that they joined the online protest with a view to crying out to ASUU and the FG to consider poor students whose parents cannot afford the luxury of sending them overseas to study like the sons and daughters of political office holders.
Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, joined other students and concerned Nigerians clamouring for a speedy end to the crisis rocking the higher education sector.
Atiku, who featured the link to the petition signing website on his Twitter handle, wrote, “We should never play politics with education. Our future depends on it. It is time for the FG and ASUU to reach a consensus and get students back to school by ending this strike.”
An Abuja-based post-graduate student in one of the public universities in the country, Mubarak Jubrin, expressing his dissatisfaction, wrote: “I am stuck with a semester to finish my Master’s programme. The FG should be doing everything possible to rescue the one institution left that is working towards producing better human beings who will shape the future of our dear country.”
Noting that prolonged shutting down of public universities is a dangerous omen for the society and development of the nation, a Kaduna-based student, Tarik Abubakar, also said Nigerians students were being denied their rights to education.
“Students in other countries are enjoying their rights to education. I am pleading with the FG and ASUU to settle their issue and call off the strike,” Abubakar stated.
A Nigerian student studying at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, Godspower Onwudiwe, lamented that the industrial action paints a bad picture of Nigeria on the international scene.
Onwudiwe stated, I feel so sorry for my beloved country because these incessant strikes are a barrier to her general development. Also, as a student in the Diaspora, it paints a very pitiful and shameful picture on our international identity.
“I cannot wait to not only see this strike end but also the end of future strikes to the detriment of the future of this generation and our country at large.”
Jemima Gana, who was moved to sign the petition because she believes that the status quo needs to change as the prosperous future of Nigeria depends on quality education, which is being threatened by the strike.
Gana, who according to the information she provided on the site, is based in Lagos, said Nigerian students need a stable learning environment devoid of strikes for them to be able to compete globally.
“It is so important to me because it is high time the FG took the value of education seriously and in high regard. Students in Nigeria need a stable environment to acquire knowledge and graduate on time in order to contribute their skills to the growth and development of this great nation,” she wrote.
Strike: It is impossible to meet ASUU’s Demands –FG
Federal Government on Tuesday repeated its call on the striking university teachers to return to work in the interest of students and prevent further damage to the education system.
Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, made the call during the ministry’s monthly press briefing in Abuja.
He said government had conceded to most of the demands made by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and wondered why the union would not budge in the interest of the nation.
“No nation can move forward if we all expect government to give 100 per cent time and effort to our problems. We run an economy that needs attention in all phases,” the minister said.
He said government’s commitment to resolve ASUU crisis was further demonstrated by its representation by Vice President Namadi Sambo in the ongoing dialogue.
Maku explained that the strike was not for salaries but for allowances, as salaries had been increased.
According to the minister, “Salaries have been increased by 54.3 per cent which is half of our monthly income but they still insist on their N100 billon allowance.
“Government offered N30 billion but after a meeting with the Vice President, government promised another N10 billion, making it N40 billion.
“Government has also promised N100 billion from Education Trust Fund and the N40 billon allowance has already been paid in many universities, yet they are still under lock and key,” he added.
The minister also stated that no government had cooperated with ASUU the way the present government was doing.
The minister, however, sympathised with students now at home and called on parents and Nigerians in general to appeal to ASUU to go back to the classrooms.
Meanwhile, placard-carrying members of ASUU, Niger Delta University (NDU) chapter, protested in Yenagoa on Tuesday, decrying the Federal Government’s refusal to implement the 2009 FGN/ASUU pact.
Police authorities in the state denied the aggrieved university teachers permission for street protest but limited them to the confines of the university’s Law Faculty in the Bayelsa State capital.
Chairman of NDU ASUU, Beke Sese, who addressed reporters, also disclosed that the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Governor Seriake joystickson quizzed him few hours to the planned protest on Tuesday morning.
Some of the placards brandished by the lecturers carried inscriptions like, ‘Not every child can go to Ghana to study’; ‘Agreement is Agreement’; ‘Government save our universities’; ‘Poor people’s children need universities’; ‘Can your child afford to go to Ghana and Malaysia, if no then join ASUU to better our universities.’
Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) between 1996 and 2001, Muzanli Jibril, on his part attributed the incessant strike by ASUU to deficiencies in officials appointed by government to negotiate with the unionists.
He said more often than not government enters into negotiations with ASUU officials unprepared, noting that engaging former academics who have held positions in government could have been able to foster better understanding of ASUU, its strike and strategies.
Jubril also said ASUU by its tradition has been able to link significant improvement in funding to strikes, which has translated into “one ASUU strike, one major increment.”
The ex-NUC scribe spoke at the anniversary lecture to mark NUC @ 50 + 1 in Abuja on Tuesday, where he said each industrial action by the union was hinged on funding.
“Government enters into negotiations with ASUU unprepared, if the government does its part, there would be no need for ASUU to embark on strike.
“The attitudes of successive governments have not helped matters as it has made the union to realise that it can only get what it wants by embarking on strike.
“The major problem causing the industrial actions is the ‘chronic under-funding’ of the institutions,” Jibril added.
Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA) on Tuesday also in a resolution urged the university teachers to call off their strike in the interest of the students and the nation in general.
The resolution was sequel to the consideration of a motion on the ASUU strike brought onto the floor by Majority Leader, Philip Shaibu, under Matters of Urgent Public Importance.
Chairman of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Parents Forum, Babatunde Majekodunmi, has, however, appealed to ASUU members to bring their four-month-old strike to an end in the interest of students nationwide.
Reacting to President Goodluck Jonathans call in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday on the striking lecturers to bring the lingering crisis to an end, Majekodunmi in a telephone interview with Daily Independent explained that the parents’ forum will not rest until the crisis is resolved.
He said the forum had made a lot of positive moves in talking to the lecturers to maintain truce so that students who are the major causalities of the lingering crisis can return to classrooms for academic learning.
Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, made the call during the ministry’s monthly press briefing in Abuja.
He said government had conceded to most of the demands made by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and wondered why the union would not budge in the interest of the nation.
“No nation can move forward if we all expect government to give 100 per cent time and effort to our problems. We run an economy that needs attention in all phases,” the minister said.
He said government’s commitment to resolve ASUU crisis was further demonstrated by its representation by Vice President Namadi Sambo in the ongoing dialogue.
Maku explained that the strike was not for salaries but for allowances, as salaries had been increased.
According to the minister, “Salaries have been increased by 54.3 per cent which is half of our monthly income but they still insist on their N100 billon allowance.
“Government offered N30 billion but after a meeting with the Vice President, government promised another N10 billion, making it N40 billion.
“Government has also promised N100 billion from Education Trust Fund and the N40 billon allowance has already been paid in many universities, yet they are still under lock and key,” he added.
The minister also stated that no government had cooperated with ASUU the way the present government was doing.
The minister, however, sympathised with students now at home and called on parents and Nigerians in general to appeal to ASUU to go back to the classrooms.
Meanwhile, placard-carrying members of ASUU, Niger Delta University (NDU) chapter, protested in Yenagoa on Tuesday, decrying the Federal Government’s refusal to implement the 2009 FGN/ASUU pact.
Police authorities in the state denied the aggrieved university teachers permission for street protest but limited them to the confines of the university’s Law Faculty in the Bayelsa State capital.
Chairman of NDU ASUU, Beke Sese, who addressed reporters, also disclosed that the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Governor Seriake joystickson quizzed him few hours to the planned protest on Tuesday morning.
Some of the placards brandished by the lecturers carried inscriptions like, ‘Not every child can go to Ghana to study’; ‘Agreement is Agreement’; ‘Government save our universities’; ‘Poor people’s children need universities’; ‘Can your child afford to go to Ghana and Malaysia, if no then join ASUU to better our universities.’
Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) between 1996 and 2001, Muzanli Jibril, on his part attributed the incessant strike by ASUU to deficiencies in officials appointed by government to negotiate with the unionists.
He said more often than not government enters into negotiations with ASUU officials unprepared, noting that engaging former academics who have held positions in government could have been able to foster better understanding of ASUU, its strike and strategies.
Jubril also said ASUU by its tradition has been able to link significant improvement in funding to strikes, which has translated into “one ASUU strike, one major increment.”
The ex-NUC scribe spoke at the anniversary lecture to mark NUC @ 50 + 1 in Abuja on Tuesday, where he said each industrial action by the union was hinged on funding.
“Government enters into negotiations with ASUU unprepared, if the government does its part, there would be no need for ASUU to embark on strike.
“The attitudes of successive governments have not helped matters as it has made the union to realise that it can only get what it wants by embarking on strike.
“The major problem causing the industrial actions is the ‘chronic under-funding’ of the institutions,” Jibril added.
Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA) on Tuesday also in a resolution urged the university teachers to call off their strike in the interest of the students and the nation in general.
The resolution was sequel to the consideration of a motion on the ASUU strike brought onto the floor by Majority Leader, Philip Shaibu, under Matters of Urgent Public Importance.
Chairman of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Parents Forum, Babatunde Majekodunmi, has, however, appealed to ASUU members to bring their four-month-old strike to an end in the interest of students nationwide.
Reacting to President Goodluck Jonathans call in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday on the striking lecturers to bring the lingering crisis to an end, Majekodunmi in a telephone interview with Daily Independent explained that the parents’ forum will not rest until the crisis is resolved.
He said the forum had made a lot of positive moves in talking to the lecturers to maintain truce so that students who are the major causalities of the lingering crisis can return to classrooms for academic learning.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Reconsider Your Stand, Abdusalami; Babangida Tell ASUU/FG
Two former Military Head of State, General Abdulsami Abubakar and General Ibrahim Babangida has called on the Academic Staff Union Of Universities and the Federal government to reconsider their stand on the ongoing strike in order to avert total collapse of education in the countryThe duo spoke with journalists shortly after paying sallah visit to the state governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu at his residence in Minna on Friday.
General Abubakar who spoke extensively on other nagging national issues including security, oil theft among others also called on all other unions already on strike or warming up to enter into dialogue with the relevant authorities to avoid the collapse of the nation’s economy.
General Abubakar said, “I believe that strike is a normal issue but i think we are overdoing it in this country because in other developed countries, strike is done within 24 hours aimed at drawing attention to their plight. Nigerians are already feeling the pinch of these strike actions and so government and these strikers should look at how these issues can be resolved immediately.”
The former Head of State said government should not have allowed the strike to linger on for so long and therefore called on it to look into their demands and address them accordingly regardless of its dwindling resources.
According to him, “Government should look into these various issues and demands and address them accordingly regardless of the dwindling resources of the country and similarly, the strikers should also look at the coffers of government and try to be reasonable in their demands.”
He noted that the various unions had made their points and therefore urged them to go back to work pointing out that if the strike continues, they might eventually lose the sympathy of the people.
General Babangida who also spoke in the same vein also called on the striking unions to sheath their swords in the interest of parents, students and other affected Nigerians.
Speaking on security, General Abubakar said it is the business of all Nigerians and should not be left in the hands of government and security agents alone and therefore called on the public to always pass on relevant informationregarding security to the authorities. Just as he also called on the security agencies to always protect sources of their information in order to give more room for more information.
General Abubakar those involved in the constant oil theft as unpatrotic and urged them to abandon the business in the interest of the economy of the nation.
“I look at the ongoing development as very sad and look at the people as very unpatrotic. To them, they think they are getting their share of the national cake by stealing whereas they are not. I want them to have a rethink and search their conscience and turn a new leaf so that we can have a peaceful and developing country”
He however allayed the fears of the ongoing problems facing the country saying, “God has joined us together and whether you break Nigeria into pieces, we will still remain joined by our umbilical cord because our umbilical cord is still there and we will continue to live together either as neighbours or as communities.”
General Abubakar who spoke extensively on other nagging national issues including security, oil theft among others also called on all other unions already on strike or warming up to enter into dialogue with the relevant authorities to avoid the collapse of the nation’s economy.
General Abubakar said, “I believe that strike is a normal issue but i think we are overdoing it in this country because in other developed countries, strike is done within 24 hours aimed at drawing attention to their plight. Nigerians are already feeling the pinch of these strike actions and so government and these strikers should look at how these issues can be resolved immediately.”
The former Head of State said government should not have allowed the strike to linger on for so long and therefore called on it to look into their demands and address them accordingly regardless of its dwindling resources.
According to him, “Government should look into these various issues and demands and address them accordingly regardless of the dwindling resources of the country and similarly, the strikers should also look at the coffers of government and try to be reasonable in their demands.”
He noted that the various unions had made their points and therefore urged them to go back to work pointing out that if the strike continues, they might eventually lose the sympathy of the people.
General Babangida who also spoke in the same vein also called on the striking unions to sheath their swords in the interest of parents, students and other affected Nigerians.
Speaking on security, General Abubakar said it is the business of all Nigerians and should not be left in the hands of government and security agents alone and therefore called on the public to always pass on relevant informationregarding security to the authorities. Just as he also called on the security agencies to always protect sources of their information in order to give more room for more information.
General Abubakar those involved in the constant oil theft as unpatrotic and urged them to abandon the business in the interest of the economy of the nation.
“I look at the ongoing development as very sad and look at the people as very unpatrotic. To them, they think they are getting their share of the national cake by stealing whereas they are not. I want them to have a rethink and search their conscience and turn a new leaf so that we can have a peaceful and developing country”
He however allayed the fears of the ongoing problems facing the country saying, “God has joined us together and whether you break Nigeria into pieces, we will still remain joined by our umbilical cord because our umbilical cord is still there and we will continue to live together either as neighbours or as communities.”
ASUU Strike: NANS Barricades Niger Bridge For Hours
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Friday barricaded the Asaba axis of the Niger Bridge for more than two hours.
The action, which was jointly carried out by some university students and their polytechnic counterparts was in protest of the protracted strike by ASUU.
The aggrieved students blocked the bridge at about 1 p.m., which resulted to a traffic gridlock that stretched from the bridge to Okwe junction about five kilometres to Asaba town.
They also lamented the recent decisions of polytechnic lecturers under the auspices of ASUP to also embark on a similar strike, saying it would further cripple the education sector and send a wrong signal to the international community.
NANS National Public Relations Officer, Victor Ola-Ogun, said that the students were tired of the strike and appealed to ASUU to call it off.
He said that the students had embarked on the peaceful protest and taken it to Kano and “now they are in Zone B, that is Delta and the Anambra area of the country.’’
He said that if the lecturers refuse to call off the strike, the association would further move the protest to Zone C and D, comprising the middle Belt areas and South West of the country.
“We do not want a situation where our ladies will become prostitutes and the men armed robbers.
“We are always there to fight for the lecturers’ welfare and now that the Federal Government has decided to meet some of their demands, they should consider for our sake and go back to work,’’ Ola-Ogun said.
The students, which were drawn from different parts of the country, came in large number.
They will leave Delta to their various destinations on Saturday. (NAN)
The action, which was jointly carried out by some university students and their polytechnic counterparts was in protest of the protracted strike by ASUU.
The aggrieved students blocked the bridge at about 1 p.m., which resulted to a traffic gridlock that stretched from the bridge to Okwe junction about five kilometres to Asaba town.
They also lamented the recent decisions of polytechnic lecturers under the auspices of ASUP to also embark on a similar strike, saying it would further cripple the education sector and send a wrong signal to the international community.
NANS National Public Relations Officer, Victor Ola-Ogun, said that the students were tired of the strike and appealed to ASUU to call it off.
He said that the students had embarked on the peaceful protest and taken it to Kano and “now they are in Zone B, that is Delta and the Anambra area of the country.’’
He said that if the lecturers refuse to call off the strike, the association would further move the protest to Zone C and D, comprising the middle Belt areas and South West of the country.
“We do not want a situation where our ladies will become prostitutes and the men armed robbers.
“We are always there to fight for the lecturers’ welfare and now that the Federal Government has decided to meet some of their demands, they should consider for our sake and go back to work,’’ Ola-Ogun said.
The students, which were drawn from different parts of the country, came in large number.
They will leave Delta to their various destinations on Saturday. (NAN)
ASUU Strike: NANS Barricades Niger Bridge For Hours
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Friday barricaded the Asaba axis of the Niger Bridge for more than two hours.
The action, which was jointly carried out by some university students and their polytechnic counterparts was in protest of the protracted strike by ASUU.
The aggrieved students blocked the bridge at about 1 p.m., which resulted to a traffic gridlock that stretched from the bridge to Okwe junction about five kilometres to Asaba town.
They also lamented the recent decisions of polytechnic lecturers under the auspices of ASUP to also embark on a similar strike, saying it would further cripple the education sector and send a wrong signal to the international community.
NANS National Public Relations Officer, Victor Ola-Ogun, said that the students were tired of the strike and appealed to ASUU to call it off.
He said that the students had embarked on the peaceful protest and taken it to Kano and “now they are in Zone B, that is Delta and the Anambra area of the country.’’
He said that if the lecturers refuse to call off the strike, the association would further move the protest to Zone C and D, comprising the middle Belt areas and South West of the country.
“We do not want a situation where our ladies will become prostitutes and the men armed robbers.
“We are always there to fight for the lecturers’ welfare and now that the Federal Government has decided to meet some of their demands, they should consider for our sake and go back to work,’’ Ola-Ogun said.
The students, which were drawn from different parts of the country, came in large number.
They will leave Delta to their various destinations on Saturday. (NAN)
The action, which was jointly carried out by some university students and their polytechnic counterparts was in protest of the protracted strike by ASUU.
The aggrieved students blocked the bridge at about 1 p.m., which resulted to a traffic gridlock that stretched from the bridge to Okwe junction about five kilometres to Asaba town.
They also lamented the recent decisions of polytechnic lecturers under the auspices of ASUP to also embark on a similar strike, saying it would further cripple the education sector and send a wrong signal to the international community.
NANS National Public Relations Officer, Victor Ola-Ogun, said that the students were tired of the strike and appealed to ASUU to call it off.
He said that the students had embarked on the peaceful protest and taken it to Kano and “now they are in Zone B, that is Delta and the Anambra area of the country.’’
He said that if the lecturers refuse to call off the strike, the association would further move the protest to Zone C and D, comprising the middle Belt areas and South West of the country.
“We do not want a situation where our ladies will become prostitutes and the men armed robbers.
“We are always there to fight for the lecturers’ welfare and now that the Federal Government has decided to meet some of their demands, they should consider for our sake and go back to work,’’ Ola-Ogun said.
The students, which were drawn from different parts of the country, came in large number.
They will leave Delta to their various destinations on Saturday. (NAN)
Friday, October 18, 2013
Breaking: ASUU rejects FG offers; says strike must continue
Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, yesterday, rejected. the N130 billion the Federal Government disbursed into the university system, as part of efforts to persuade striking lecturers to call off the strike which began on July 2.
In a letter written to Head of National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy, NEEDs Assessment, and Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswan, by President of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge. The union insisted that based on the 2009 ASUU/FGN agreement and the January 2012 Memoranda of Understanding, MoU, signed by both parties, what was due for 2012 and 2013 was N500 billion, not N100 billion.
The letter read: “We observe that the Committee is so far mentioning only N100 billion. If the implementation is to be related to the funding requirements in the 2009 ASUU/FGN agreement and the Jan 2012 MoU, what is due for 2012 and 2013 is N500 billion not N100 billion. Only the provision of this sum will meet the immediate needs of the universities.
“Our Union is very apprehensive of the manner in which the sources of the initial N100 billion to be used for the stimulation of the process are shrouded in secrecy. We believe that monies that already belong to the university system should not be blocked and recycled.
“This will not only be counterproductive but will brew even deeper crises in the system. ASUU will not accept this.
“We are also concerned that a clear procedure or process for assessing the funds by the universities is yet to be defined. This concern is even more germane, given the statement of the Chairman of the Committee (during the last meeting on Monday, August 19, 2013) that the committee is taking some documents to the Due Process Office.
“We hasten to add that while due process must be followed, it is the sole responsibility of benefitting universities to respect all the provisions of the Procurement Act. The meaning of your Committee going to the Due Process Office is that it is the one that will be responsible for awarding contracts.
“We want to make it clear that this will never be acceptable to our union. We believe that monies meant to fund projects in universities should be sent to the universities, just as it is the practice with TETFund.”
The union condemned allocation of construction of 2,500 bed space hostel for N1billion, instead of 3,000 bed space for N1.2 billion.
“We are worried that instead of allocating N1.2 billion each to construct 3,000 bed space hostels to the 10 Category 1 universities, N1.0 billion for 2,500 bed space hostel to the 16 Category 2 universities, N500 million to construct 1,250 bed space hostels in the 12 Category 3 universities and N250 million each to construct 625 bed space hostels in the 13 Category 4 universities, the secretariat has changed that to constructing 1,400 bed space hostels in 25 universities at the cost of N2 billion each. We see no rationale in this.
“Expending N50 billion to construct 35,000 bed space hostels across 25 universities will be ridiculously scandalous since the same amount can be used to construct 125,000 bed space hostels across 51 universities. The standard cost of building a bed space ranges from N200,000.00 to a maximum of N400,000.00.
“This is even more worrisome, given the tangential suggestions made by the chairman that only monies for refurbishment will be sent to universities, while the rest will be handled centrally,” the union said.
The union also condemned the exclusion of 22 universities from the allocation for refurbishment of laboratories and libraries and three universities from the allocation for refurbishment of lecture theatres and lecture rooms.
According to ASUU, 24 universities are denied allocation for construction of libraries and laboratories, while two are denied allocation for construction of new lecture theatres and lecture rooms. 26 universities are denied allocation for construction of hostel. What do you have to say about this as a student? Commet below
In a letter written to Head of National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy, NEEDs Assessment, and Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswan, by President of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge. The union insisted that based on the 2009 ASUU/FGN agreement and the January 2012 Memoranda of Understanding, MoU, signed by both parties, what was due for 2012 and 2013 was N500 billion, not N100 billion.
The letter read: “We observe that the Committee is so far mentioning only N100 billion. If the implementation is to be related to the funding requirements in the 2009 ASUU/FGN agreement and the Jan 2012 MoU, what is due for 2012 and 2013 is N500 billion not N100 billion. Only the provision of this sum will meet the immediate needs of the universities.
“Our Union is very apprehensive of the manner in which the sources of the initial N100 billion to be used for the stimulation of the process are shrouded in secrecy. We believe that monies that already belong to the university system should not be blocked and recycled.
“This will not only be counterproductive but will brew even deeper crises in the system. ASUU will not accept this.
“We are also concerned that a clear procedure or process for assessing the funds by the universities is yet to be defined. This concern is even more germane, given the statement of the Chairman of the Committee (during the last meeting on Monday, August 19, 2013) that the committee is taking some documents to the Due Process Office.
“We hasten to add that while due process must be followed, it is the sole responsibility of benefitting universities to respect all the provisions of the Procurement Act. The meaning of your Committee going to the Due Process Office is that it is the one that will be responsible for awarding contracts.
“We want to make it clear that this will never be acceptable to our union. We believe that monies meant to fund projects in universities should be sent to the universities, just as it is the practice with TETFund.”
The union condemned allocation of construction of 2,500 bed space hostel for N1billion, instead of 3,000 bed space for N1.2 billion.
“We are worried that instead of allocating N1.2 billion each to construct 3,000 bed space hostels to the 10 Category 1 universities, N1.0 billion for 2,500 bed space hostel to the 16 Category 2 universities, N500 million to construct 1,250 bed space hostels in the 12 Category 3 universities and N250 million each to construct 625 bed space hostels in the 13 Category 4 universities, the secretariat has changed that to constructing 1,400 bed space hostels in 25 universities at the cost of N2 billion each. We see no rationale in this.
“Expending N50 billion to construct 35,000 bed space hostels across 25 universities will be ridiculously scandalous since the same amount can be used to construct 125,000 bed space hostels across 51 universities. The standard cost of building a bed space ranges from N200,000.00 to a maximum of N400,000.00.
“This is even more worrisome, given the tangential suggestions made by the chairman that only monies for refurbishment will be sent to universities, while the rest will be handled centrally,” the union said.
The union also condemned the exclusion of 22 universities from the allocation for refurbishment of laboratories and libraries and three universities from the allocation for refurbishment of lecture theatres and lecture rooms.
According to ASUU, 24 universities are denied allocation for construction of libraries and laboratories, while two are denied allocation for construction of new lecture theatres and lecture rooms. 26 universities are denied allocation for construction of hostel. What do you have to say about this as a student? Commet below
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