ONGOING ASUU NEGOTIATIONS
FOLLOWING TWO RECENT
MEETINGS WITH VICE-PRESIDENT
NAMADI SAMBO
October 16, 2013
From the Office of the Vice-
Chancellor
Following two meetings (on
Thursday 19th Sept 2013 and
Friday 11th Oct 2013) of
representativesof the AVCNU
(Association of Vice-Chancellors
of Nigerian Universities, led by
CVC Chairman, Prof. Hamisu of
ATBU) and ASUU
Representatives(led by its
President, Dr. N. Fagge) with the
Vice-President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, Arc. N.
Sambo, Minister of Education
Barr. N. Wike and others, all
Vice-Chancellors have been
urged to inform and enlighten
our academic and other staff on
the following developments so
that we can ensure a return to
normalcy in our universities
within the shortest possible
time
1. Earned Allowances: The N30
billion already released will now
be increased to N40 billion, and
should be regarded only as first
installment, and not a once-and-
for-al l payment. Government
will top it up with further
releases once universities are
through with the disbursement
of this new figure of N40
million, so Vice-Chancellors are
urged to expedite this
disbursement within the
shortest possible time using
guiding templates that have
been sent by the CVC.
2. NEEDS Assessment Capital
Money: Government was
cognizant and mindful of the
ability of Universities to
effectively/ efficiently utilize the
N100 billion fund immediately,
hence that figure. However, in
addition to this N100 billion
dedicated and already made
available for 2013, N200 billion
(increased from N150 billion
previously agreed) will now be
earmarked in the 2014 Budget
as well as each of the following
three-four years until the
Universities are brought to
world-class standard.
3. Project Prioritization:
Universities will now be allowed
to determine their priorities and
not be “rail-roaded” into
implementing a pre-determined
set of projects with respect to
the NEEDS assessment. Decisions
are not to be centralized.
4. TETFund Intervention:
Government assured that the
operations of the TETFund will
not be impaired, and that the
regular TETFund intervention
disbursement to Universities
will continue, unaffected. So the
NEEDS assessment capital
outlays are in addition to
regular TETFund intervention.
5. Project Monitoring: A new
Implementation Monitoring
Committee (IMC) for the NEEDS
Assessment intervention for
universities has been set up to
take over from the Suswan
Committee. The new one is
under the Federal Ministry of
Education and chaired by the
Honorable Minister of Education.
In addition, to build confidence
and ensure faithful
implementation and prevent
any relapse as before, the Vice
President will meet quarterly
with the IMC to monitor
progress.
6. Blueprint: ASUU was
mandated to submit a blue print
for revitalizing the Universities
to the Vice President.
7. Official Agreement Document:
A signed document would be
issued very soon to itemize the
full issues on which this present
consensus outlined here,
brokered by AVCNU, has been
reached.
8. An Appeal to Call Off Strike:
The Vice-President Sambo
appealed to ASUU to call off the
strike and apologized for the
“take-it-or-leave-it” comments
credited to the Hon Minister of
Finance. All other parties
present at the meetings also
prevailed on the ASUU
leadership to consult objectively
with its members to get them to
agree with what is now on the
table and to call off the strike as
soon as possible after the Sallah
break of Tuesday/ Wednesday
October 15/16 2013.
9. ASUU President Responds: At
both meetings, the President of
ASUU thanked the VP for taking
over negotiations and promised
to consult with his ASUU
Constituency.
We keep our fingers firmly
crossed, as we await both the
official consensus agreement
document and full ASUU
reaction. Statesmanship on all
sides is called for at this point in
time.
Thank you.
Prof. Mobolaji E. Aluko
Vice-Chancellor
Federal University Otuoke