FG Forms 31-Member Committee To Negotiate With ASUU

The Federal Ministry of Education has constituted a 31-man committee to renegotiate the agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The committee’s formation aims to prevent an impending strike by ASUU, which has threatened to disrupt the academic calendar if their demands are not met. The committee will be inaugurated next Wednesday.

This move comes after ASUU issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the resolution of several unresolved issues. These include the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021, and the release of withheld salaries due to the 2022 strike action. Additionally, ASUU seeks the payment of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). The union is also demanding outstanding third-party deductions, funding for the revitalization of public universities as outlined in the 2023 Federal Budget, and the payment of Earned Academic Allowances.

ASUU’s President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, expressed disappointment over the government’s slow response and accused it of exacerbating the crisis in the university system. He warned that if the government fails to address these issues within the 14-day extension starting from September 23, 2024, ASUU will proceed with industrial action, and the government would be held responsible for any resulting academic disruptions.

The Federal Ministry of Education, through its Director of Press, Folasade Boriowo, remains optimistic, noting that steps are being taken to prevent a strike. She emphasized that the committee’s formation is part of ongoing efforts to address ASUU’s concerns and restore stability to the university system.