The Federal Government and the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the non-teaching staff of Nigerian Universities have reached an agreement over the ongoing strike by the workers.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, said this at a conciliatory meeting with the leadership of the JAC of the unions and other officials of the Ministry of Education on Friday in Abuja.

It would be recalled that the non-teaching staff of Nigerian universities under the auspices of JAC embarked on strike on Monday over non- implementation of the 2009 agreement.

The workers belong to the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities ( SSANU).

The demands of the unions included the payment of earned allowances, a review of the governance system in universities and improved funding in line with UNESCO recommendations.

Other demands included provision of infrastructure in universities and payment of salary shortfall being owed members, implementation of the National Industrial Court judgment on university staff schools and registration of NUPEMCO, the Pension Fund Administrator proposed for university workers.

Ngige, however, said agreements had been reached on all the issues raised by the workers.

“We held discussions on all these areas and we reached agreement on all of them; government has already approved and released some N23 billion for earned allowances in the universities.

“This is for teaching and non-teaching staff of the various universities in Nigeria.

“We agreed on this that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation is to expedite action on mandate for this payment.

“We have the issue of shortfall; the issue is already being addressed and some universities are already credited with some amount of money for their short falls,” he said.

On the implementation of NIC judgment for staff schools, he said that government through the National Universities Commission had issued circulars directing the universities to implement the judgement.

He also said the Salaries and Wages Income Commission had initiated the process of ensuring compliance with the NIC judgment, expressing the hope that this would be completed within four weeks.

On non-registration of NUPEMCO as Pension Fund Administrator, he said that the process had begun and a consultant would be handling this on behalf of the unions.

“We have also reiterated our commitment that the appropriate filled forms and particulars be submitted within one week while the Federal Ministry of Education will expedite action to bringing out the certificates.

“Also on the negotiation of the 2009 agreement, we realised that Babalakin Committee is handling that and has collected memorandum from the various unions,” he added.

Ngige, who also reacted to the issue of inadequate infrastructure and poor funding of universities, said the Ministry of Education was in the process of inaugurating a nine-man committee that would develop an alternative means of sourcing for funds.

He also said that the meeting jointly agreed that government should intensify efforts to checkmate the excesses of corrupt officials in the university system.

The meeting further agreed that universities should also operate the Treasury Single Account and that the office of the Accountant General of the Federation should investigate cases of those operating multiple accounts.

“We also agreed that government should expedite action and send visitation panels to federal universities that have not been visited and revisit the previous visitation panels for the purpose of implementation of their recommendations.

“Again on whistle blowing which is the new anti-corruption policy of this administration, government agreed with the unions that whistle blowers should be protected

“On the issue of CONTISS 14 and CONTISS 15 for technologists, the technologists’ union, NAAT, is to provide the Federal Ministry of Education with information that would assist the ministry to develop appropriate scheme of service for the new cadres among others.

“Finally, it was agreed that the union members should not be victimised on account of this journey they have undertaken to go on strike and the unions also are to revert to government on Wednesday, Sept. 20, after presenting this to their National Executive Councils,” he said.

Mr Samson Ugwoke, the National Chairman of JAC, commended the labour minister for his honesty and commitment in ensuring that the strike was called off.

“We have all dotted these items one by one and agreed on them, but you know we are messengers; we were sent here by our principals and we cannot endorse any of these as either an agreement or MOU

“So, what we agreed on today, on these issues that we have put our heads together on, will be taken back to our various National Executive Councils for deliberation and we will report by Wednesday, Sept. 20, ” he said.

The meeting between the Federal Government and the unions lasted about 11 hours.

source: https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2017/09/15/strike-govt-non-teaching-varsity-workers-reach-agreement/



cc: lalasticlala

Please wat r dey fighting for sef... Tired of hearing 2009 agreement.

….WHILE WAITING ON ASUU

I remember being a university student a couple of years back and the news comes to you that ASUU is going on strike. At first you don’t feel perplexed because you have no idea how long it will last and many students even see it as an opportunity to take a rest from the academic rigour. Not until months start counting and it starts getting boring by the day especially for those who go back home. They begin to pray that ASUU should call off the strike. But you could be always sure that it will take at least four months before your prayers get answered; well, I said four month because that’s the shortest ASUU strike I experienced as an undergraduate.
So while this strike is on, you don’t have to sit down there and relax or keep praying that the strike be called off. We both know those people don’t care about the youths. And an Adage says when two elephants fight the ground bears the brunt. Their kids are outside the country studying; trying to secure for them a better future, so they don’t care. The best you can do for yourself is to take your life is in your hands. Take the bold step and do something rather than waiting.

Well, I will quickly share few tips with you on what to do while waiting on ASUU.
1. Get Certified.
2. Get an Internship placement
3. Get a vocational Skill.

Let me start with the first, Get Certified; See, certification is the only way out of joblessness and the best time to get certified is now. I’ll tell you why; many certification institutes have discount for students, fresh graduates and NYSC members which means you have to take advantage of it; because once the discount umbrella covers you no more, you would have to pay the normally quite expensive amount professionals pay for certifications. Secondly, why procrastinate? If you have the means why not do it now instead of getting a new phone. The perfect time is always NOW!! You might never get the same opportunity you have now again. There are a lot of certification you might want to decide to get now; I’ll mention a few; Oil and Gas certifications like General and Advance HSE, NEBOSH and OSHA certifications will make you a prospect. These certifications are very important and they have taken a lot of people out of the labour market. They are relevant in almost any industry or sector and if you think that your course of study will rob you the opportunity to work in your desired industry, well, I have good news for you; there are oil and gas short courses that will avail you this opportunity.
Another important certification I will mention is I.T certification; you can get a certification in networking or programming while you wait on ASUU. This will not only give you an edge in the labour market it will also make you a potential entrepreneur. Well, I used the word ‘potential’ because not everybody realise this and not everyone have the desire to become entrepreneurs. Getting I.T skills have the highest possibility of making you an entrepreneur. What more can I say? GET CERTIFIED!! CERTIFICATION IS THE WAY!!

Second point is; Get an Internship placement; this might be a little bit hard in this country especially for those who do not have uncles and aunties in these organisations, but it should stop you from trying. Write a letter to as many of them that you have mapped out and will be willing to work at, send you CV along side, and let them know you would be willing to intern in their organisation without getting paid. Of course, you shouldn’t be after the pay at this point in your life; you should be after the experience and the opportunity that comes with it. Learning comes before earning you know. And as a matter of fact, you are still in your Learning stage. If you have few certifications already, it will boost your CV and increase your chances of getting the internship placement that is why I made the getting certification the chief point.

Well, the third one; Get a vocational skill is also important especially for those with the entrepreneur mind set. As a lady you might want to get some fashion designing, makeup or catering skills, there are several others though. And as a guy you might want to learn how to fix computers and phones or some computer software skills depending on your passion, you might even try the so-called ‘feminine’ skills I mention earlier or hair dressing. The trend is changing as men are becoming very successful in the line of businesses that was once believed to be feminine. Most women prefer the male touch to female. I bet these skills would certainly help you when you least expect.

It is all about the money..not about the students.. Unions are created to better the lives of their members!!

Remain this stupid ASUU

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