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Friday, March 29, 2024

ASUU/FG Talks Hits another Deadlock, FG Fails Agreement, Releases N130Billion

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“The union is talking about the implementation of 2009 agreement and not renegotiation. If you remember the objective of going on strike is to get government to implement the 2009 ASUU and FG agreement – particularly to implement the provisions of the memorandum of understanding we reached with the government in 2012. I want to say that at today’s meeting, we looked at all the issues and it is clear to us that Governor Suswam Committee is working on the funding requirement for revitalizing the university system particularly on the implementation of the needs assessment report… its clear to us that we have not really gone far in that aspect. So, on the basis of that, we will also go back and inform our principals on the development. I think it is important to clarify that at this point we are not making a demand, there was an agreement with government, and even that aspect that the government is talking about, the entitlement of earned staff of then university, includes the technical staff, members of the senior staff association and members of the nonacademic staff. So, I think at this point, what the union is talking about is the implementation of 2009 agreement not the renegotiation of the agreement. Well, we will wait to hear from government after the consultation with councils. Whatever they place on the table, we will look at it. But for now, we will also go back and report tour principals”, explained the Academic Staff Union of Universities [ASUU] President, Comrade Nasir Isa Fagge following a four [4]hour deadlocked meeting held at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation with representative of the federal government [FG] – headed by the governor of Benue State, Governor Gabriel Suswam – where the federal government made their position evident that out of the N92billion demanded by the ASUU – that only N30billion will be released.

The latest development in the lingering and long-drawn-out arbitration between the FG and ASUU marks a new turn in the negotiation – as it appears apparent that both sides have dug in to their respective trenches – without signs of yielding to each other.

Following the discussions at the meeting, the FG was reported to have agreed to remit the sum of N130 billion – of which N100billion will be earmarked to tackle infrastructural development and the remainder of N30billion be used defray unpaid allowances.

The head of the FG delegation promised that the N100billion will be released begin from September 2013, According to Suswam, “the Federal Government has been able to harness about N100 billion, which Mr. President has agreed that will flag of the project and starting from the first week of September in virtually all the universities. The process of achieving that is ongoing at the Centre and due process for it at various universities. The infrastructure deficit will be addressed like hostels, labs and libraries. Some will be renovated while others will be brand new. Every university will be affected and each of the hostels will accommodate 1,200 students”.

Governor Suswam however did not mention the already existing agreement between the FG and the ASUU which pegged the total sum agreed by the both parties at N400billion. It was the Secretary to the Government of the Federation [SGF], Senator Anyim Pius Anyim who joined issues to explain that the FG has adopted a new approach to remitting monies to the ASUU.

Anyim said that Federal Government has agreed to release the sum of N30 billion in that regard, which must be paid according to the verifiable claims by each University Council. He said that the sum of N92 billion being demanded by ASUU could not be met as the claims upon, which fund were to be released could be faulty using the initial criteria being proposed by the academic union.
He said that they have shifted the responsibility of settling the pending arrears rests squarely on the University Council, who will be supported with the N30 billion.

The situation ASUU is asking for the N92 billion and we felt that the way the whole process is being done, there would be discrepancies and we want things to be done according to due process. We know that it is the responsibility of the University Commission to take care of the issue of unclaimed allowances. So the actual figures will be verified by the Council and we will be supporting them with N30 billion“, he said.

On the funding of the Universities infrastructure, Anyim said that Federal Government will start with the sum of N100 billion.

He said that Federal Government will release funds in a progressive manner over a period of three years to meet up with the sum of N400 billion being demanded by ASUU.

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