The Federal Government has constituted a renegotiation team to meet with the leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over the the 2009 agreement it had with the union
Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, announced the constitution of the committee in Abuja, on Thursday, as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to get the striking university lecturers back to work.
Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Ben. Bem Goong, who disclosed these in a statement, said Emeritus Professor Nimi Brigg will lead the goverment renegotiation team.
He quoted the Minister as saying there was a need to speedily bring to conclusion, all outstanding issues in the 2009 agreement in order to achieve the desired industrial peace on the Nigerian campuses.
He said that the team would be inaugurated by the Minister on Monday, March 7, 2022, in Abuja.
According to the statement, the Chairman and Members of the reconstituted 2009 FGN/ University-Based Unions Agreements renegotiation team include Prof. Emeritus Nimi Briggs (Pro-Chancellor, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo), who is thre Chairman.
Others are Arc. Lawrence Patrick Ngbale (Pro-Chancellor, Federal University. Wukari), member (North East); Prof. Funmi Togunu-Bickersteth (Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Birnin Kebbi), member (South West); Sen. Chris Adighije (Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Lokoja), member (South East); Prof. Olu Obafemi (Pro-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Minna), member (North Central); Prof. Zubairu Iliyasu (Pro-Chancellor, Kano State University of Science & Technology), member (North West); and Barr. Matthew B.Seiyefa, mni (Pro-Chancellor, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island), member (South-South).
“All advisers and observers in the Federal Government/University-based Unions 2009 agreements renegotiation team are expected to attend the inauguration,” Goong said.
ASUU embarked on a one-month warning strike on February 14, over alleged government’s unfaithfulness in the implementation of the Memorandum of Action it signed with the union.
Some of ASUU’s demands include adequate funding for revitalisation of public universities, earned academic allowances, Universities Transparency Accountability Solutions (UTAS), promotion arrears, renegotiation of 2009 ASUU/FG agreement and the inconsistencies in Integrated Payroll Personnel Information System Payment (IPPIS).