The Academic Staff Union Of Universities suspends the strike
The Academic Staff Union Of Universities has suspended the 3 months old strike remember that this is a suspension not an outright call-off.
If the government reneges on our memorandum of agreement,
The Academic Staff Union Of Universities will be embarking on another industrial action with full force as stated in their official handle, after the meeting with the Federal Government on 7th February 2019. This information was disclosed on the official twitter handle of the union. According to ASUU, academic activities will resume immediately as from today. February 8th, 2019
Detail of agreement reached with ASUU
1. FG is committed to the implementation of the FGN-ASUU 2013 (MoU) and in consonance with this commitment; Government will be releasing the sum of 25bn only in the period April/May 2019, as a sign of good faith.
Subsequently, FG will resume full implementation of the MoU following the activation of the recommendations of the Report of the Stakeholders Workshop on Sustainable Funding for Education in Nigeria, 27th-28th November, 2018.
2. EARNED ACADEMIC ALLOWANCES
The sum of N20bn had earlier been approved by FG to defray part of the outstanding arrears of earned allowances in Nigeria University. Federal Government added N5bn making a total sum of N25bn only as part-payment of earned allowances to all categories of eligible staff.
The initial Twenty Billion Naira (N20bn) will be released not later than 15th February, 2019, while the remaining Five Billion Naira (5bn) will be paid by 28th February, 2019
The said sum will be considered as the first tranche of payment, guided by the report of the forensic audit. Government agreed to pay the outstanding balance up to 2018 in four (4) equal instalments within a time frame of thirty-six (36) months:
(i) November, 2019, (ii) August 2020, (iii) May 2021, and (iv) February 2022. Government shall also mainstream further payments of the allowances into the annual budgets beginning with the 2019 budget presently under consideration at the National Assembly (NASS).
3. SALARY SHORTFALL
Payment of arrears of shortfall to PICA-verified University has been largely affected. However, the balance in the payment effected at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), and the release of outstanding salary shortfall arrears at the Fed University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM), would be addressed not later than 15th February, 2019.
4. STATE UNIVERSITIES
The Consultative Committee on State-Owned Universities, set up to look into the issues of proliferation, underfunding and governance was expanded to nine (9) members and inaugurated on Monday, 14th January, 2019.
Membership of the Committee was drawn from ASUU, SSANU, NAAT, NASU, COPSUN, NUC, FME and FML&E. The PSE will Chair the Committee while a member of the Committee from FME would serve as Secretary.
ASUU acknowledged the effective take-off of the Committee with its inaugural meeting on Monday, 28th January, 2019 and demanded that the momentum be sustained.
5. PAYMENT OF EARNED ACADEMIC ALLOWANCES (EAA) TO LOYAL ASUU MEMBERS IN UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN
Payments are on-going for all eligible staff. It was agreed that those lecturers whose appointment were terminated earned their allowances and assurances were given that they would be paid
PSE gave assurances that all outstanding issues would be resolved by Friday, 15th February, 2019.
6. NUPEMCO
ASUU appreciates the FG for paving way for the release of the letter of “APPROVAL FOR THE GRANT OF LICENSE TO CARRY ON THE BUSINESS OF A PENSION FUND ADMINISTRATOR” to the Nigeria University Pension Management Company on Monday, 28th January, 2019.
7. VISITATION PANEL
Arrangements for the Visitation Panels have been concluded and the approved list of members is in the process of being gazette. Due to the forthcoming elections, a tentative date for the commencement of the visitation has been fixed for 11th March 2019.
8. RECONSTITUTION OF GOVERNMENT RENEGOTIATING TEAM
It was agreed that, based on ILO principles, neither the Government nor the Union can dictate who is to represent the other party at the negotiating table.
It was further noted that the principle of equality of the parties in collective bargaining is a fundamental principle of the ILO which must be respected by both parties.
PSE agreed to provide documented guidelines on procedures and to clearly define the roles of parties in the re-negotiation process. It was then agreed that the renegotiation of the FGN-ASUU 2009 Agreement shall commence not later than Monday, 18th February, 2019 and be concluded by Friday, 29th March, 2019.
Based on these agreements on items 1-8, ASUU’s leadership will consult with its Organs with a view to suspending the on-going strike.
IT WAS AGREED THAT NOBODY SHALL BE VICTIMIZED IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER FOR HIS/HER ROLE IN THE PROCESS LEADING TO THIS MEMORANDUM OF ACTION.
It was gathered that the union decided to suspend the strike after reaching an agreement with the Federal Government. However, ASUU has warned that this is just a suspension of the strike and not an outright call-off.
