The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has, Thursday, suspended the over three months-old strike it embarked upon since Sunday, 4th November, 2018.


ASUU Strike: INEC alleges 2019 Elections under threat
The union suspended the strike after a memorandum of Action, MoA, it reached with the Federal government towards the revitalisation of public universities.

The ASUU National President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi who announced the suspension, however, said that the union had embarked on the strike to “stem the continued slide into rot and decay in public universities since the 1980s.”

He however decried the unpatriotic attitudes of some university chancellors whom he said tried to undermine the union’s struggle towards ensuring that universities in the country are revitalised.

The statement reads thus:

“ACADEMIC STAFF UNION OF UNIVERSITIES (ASUU), NATIONAL SECRETARIAT. TEXT OF A PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE ACADEMIC STAFF UNION OF UNIVERSITIES (ASUU), THURSDAY, 7TH FEBRUARY, 2019, AT NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS HEADQUARTERS, PASCAL BAFYAU HOUSE, ABUJA

Protocol

Friends and compatriots of the Press, On Sunday, 4th November, 2018, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) resumed its strike action which was conditionally suspended on 14th September, 2017.

The action of 2017 was suspended following the signing of a Memorandum of Action (MoA) in which the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) promised to address the contentious issues within a timeline that was to end in October 2017.

While announcing the suspension of the nationwide action, however, our Union made it categorically clear that “ASUU will not hesitate to review its position should government renege on the signed Memorandum of Action”.

Predictably, Government implemented the MoA in the breach, thereby forcing ASUU to resume the suspended strike action.

Comrades and compatriots, as we have always argued, the last thing ASUU members love doing is to cause disruption in smooth intellectual engagements with colleagues, friends and students right on our university campuses.

This has nothing to do with the dubious advertorial of “non-disruption of academic calendar” by proprietors and administrators of some cash-and-carry universities and other self-styled enemies of ASUU.

Rather, it is about deep-seated pains members of the Union undergo to prevent strike actions and the equally painful consequences strike situations bring to all who are genuinely averse to the mercantile disposition to university education.

Why Strike Action? The question has been asked time and time again: Why does ASUU like embarking on strike action that causes disruption and dislocation in the universities?

However, ASUU is strongly convinced that if academics fail to fight the cause of university education, the fate that befell public primary and secondary schools would soon become the lot of the public university system in Nigeria.

ASUU’s advocacy on the need to stem the continued slide into rot and decay in public universities since the 1980s has fallen on deaf ears. Our experience, as a trade union, shows that successive governments in Nigeria always entered into negotiated agreements only to placate those pleading the cause – be it education, health, transportation, employment or any other issue of meaningful living.

This proclivity of the Nigerian ruling class, irrespective of which wing of the insensitive stock they belong, must be continually be tracked, engaged and resisted by all people of goodwill.

ASUU ‘s action strike, which started on 4th November, 2018, was situated in the context of accumulated records of indifference and lackadaisical attitude of Government to negotiated agreements with the Union.

At our media interaction in University of Lagos on 23rd December, 2018, we highlighted the outstanding issues in the crisis to include the following:

– Funding for the revitalization of Public Universities based on the FGN-ASUU MoU of 2012, 2013 and the MoA of 2017

– Reconstitution of the current Government Team to allow for a leader and Chairman of the FG-ASUU Renegotiating team who has the interest of the nation and the people at heart.

– Release of the forensic audit report on Earned Academic allowances (EAA), offsetting the outstanding balance of the EAA and mainstreaming of same into the 2018 budget.

– Payment of all arrears of shortfall in all universities that have met the verification requirements of the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA)

– Provision of a platform by the federal government for ASUU to engage Governors on the proliferation of universities, underfunding of university education and undue interference in the affairs of the universities

– Release of PFA operational license to NUPEMCO

– Payment of EAA to loyal ASUU members at the University of Ilorin A new Memorandum of Action and Our Resolution To date, ASUU has had a total of ten (10) interactive meetings with representatives of FGN which have culminated into a Memorandum of Action of

2019.

Highlights of the MoA include the following:

In addition to the N20 billion for 2018, the sum of N25 billion only would be released in April/May 2019, after which government would resume full implementation of the MoU of 2013.
Part-payment of the outstanding arrears of the earned academic allowances; defraying the balance up to 2018 in 4 tranches within 36 months; and mainstreaming further payments of EAA into the annual budgets beginning from 2019 budget.
PICA verification and the release of the arrears of salary shortfall at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, not later than 15th February 2019.
Strengthening the Consultative Committee on State-owned Universities (CCSOU), inaugurated on Monday, 28th January, 2019 to look into the issues of proliferation, underfunding and governance to consistently deliver on its mandate.
Payment of the outstanding EAA arrears of all eligible staff in the University of Ilorin, especially the loyal ASUU members whose appointments were illegally terminated by today, 7th February, 2019.
Acknowledgement and appreciation of Government for facilitating the release of the final letter of approval for the granting of operational license to NUPEMCO.
Visitation to all Federal Universities would commence tentatively by 11th March, 2019.
Provision of documented guidelines on procedures and roles of parties in the process of renegotiating FGN-ASUU Agreement of 2009 which would commence not later than 18th February 2019 and end by Friday 29th March 2019.
Based on the initial proposals from Government, the Union made extensive consultations through its various organs. The final level of consultation was the meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) which took place 6th-7th February 2019.

NEC resolved that: Following a careful review of the report of engagements with the Federal Government on proposals for addressing all outstanding in the 2013 MoU and 2017 MoA, NEC resolved that the current strike action by the Union should be suspended conditionally with effect from 12.01 a.m on Friday 8th February 2019.

However, should Government fail to fulfill its part of the agreement as reflected in the 2019 Memorandum of Action, ASUU shall resume its suspended strike action as the Union deems necessary.

Conclusion

ASUU notes, with serious concern, the covert and overt roles of some vice-chancellors in the management and application of funds attracted by our Union to Nigeria’s public universities.

Consequently, we condemn, in the strongest terms, Vice-Chancellors who have made efforts to undermine and, in some cases, attempted to break our patriotic struggles for the revitalisation of public universities in Nigeria.

ASUU will not shy away from taking headlong those Vice-Chancellors who are reputed for acts of impunity, nepotism and other forms of conduct which are antithetic to university culture and the progressive development of our universities.

Our union will compile all their shenanigans and forward them to relevant authorities for further action.

Finally, ASUU acknowledges the understanding and support demonstrated by patriotic Nigerian students and their parents all through the strike period.

We equally appreciate the comradely assistance from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), represented by the newly re-elected President, Comrade Ayuba Waba, who has stood by us throughout the struggle.

We also acknowledge the solidarity of the civil society organisations, especially the Joint Action Front (JAF) and the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), and members of the progressive wing of the media who have consistently partnered with us in our mission to rescue Nigerian public universities from imminent collapse.

While we put a closure to this phase of the struggle, it is our hope and desire that the Nigerian governments (Federal and State) will play the roles expected of them in order to make the new Memorandum work.

We shall never abandon our obligation to ensure the survival of a sound university system.

For ASUU, the struggle certainly continues!

Thank you for listening.

Biodun Ogunyemi

President

7th February 2018”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/02/why-we-called-off-strike-ASUU/amp/

Thank you ASUU and fg

Timekeeper:

This has nothing to do with the dubious advertorial of “non-disruption of academic calendar” by proprietors and administrators of some cash-and-carry universities and other self-styled enemies of ASUU.

I'm now more convinced that ASUU leadership is very foolish. Private Universities are the cash and carry universities that is being referred to lol. What is dubious about advertising non disruption to academic calendar, which is the major selling point of any private university? Should all universities in the country be shut down simply to satisfy ASUU's ego? Or would ASUU be happier if these students are moving to Togo, Benin republic and Ghana just to get stable education at the expense of Nigeria's economy.

Lalasticlala

Yinmu#

Lol

Summary please? I am a typical Nigerian, we don't have patience to read long epistles.

Unserious elements!

Yes the strike has been called off...but the issue remains....FUNDING

Which leads me to my point...eventually, the government is going to have to icnrease fees to make sure facilites stay up to date, and salaries get paid on time.

That is the reality.

it's just politics and you don't have regards for the masses, why now? Why now? Why now?

Rank your business on Google and get more clients check my profile to see new results

ASUU plays politics once every four years.

HigherEd:

I'm now more convinced that ASUU leadership is very foolish. Private Universities are the cash and carry universities that is being referred to lol. What is dubious about advertising non disruption to academic calendar, which is the major selling point of any private university? Should all universities in the country be shut down simply to satisfy ASUU's ego? Or would ASUU be happier if these students are moving to Togo, Benin republic and Ghana just to get stable education at the expense of Nigeria's economy.

Lalasticlala

So ASUU too is going against private universities...where many of their members teach and earn some extra cash.?

Flimsy...

A

Our education has suffered in the hands of recent government. Good development for the resumption.

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oya NLC na your turn to strike o I need the holiday

HigherEd:

I'm now more convinced that ASUU leadership is very foolish. Private Universities are the cash and carry universities that is being referred to lol. What is dubious about advertising non disruption to academic calendar, which is the major selling point of any private university? Should all universities in the country be shut down simply to satisfy ASUU's ego? Or would ASUU be happier if these students are moving to Togo, Benin republic and Ghana just to get stable education at the expense of Nigeria's economy.

Lalasticlala

your brain need reset, can't you blame federal government on this issue why pointing bad finger to ASUU means you did not read the article just come here to type poo,, oloshi ayirada

ASUU had to call off because of the forthcoming election. They were under pressure.

This is the first time ASUU will be calling off strike without anything tangible, no cash at hand yet.

The FG may have won at this time. But i hope they keep to there promise which i think is very unlikely.

Prepare for another strike!!

Who ASUU dey fight for ? The student or themselves? Last last na student dey suffer everything, student welfare for naija na zero....

Jxt call off the strike...

Simple advice to all returning student
Please don't allow yourself to be used by any of our Nigerian politicians as a thugs to gain their selfish desires.... No politician deserve ur life....they'll surely come to ur various schools to invite u for campaign.. U should ask yourself.. After elections what next;

Remember their children are abroad enjoying what u deserve...be wise..!!

nice one

The painful part of it now is that Hellen will be heading to school very soon.
I will missed are pvssy
Wish everyday na ASUU day

theoldpretender:


So ASUU too is going against private universities...where many of their members teach and earn some extra cash.?

Also, these are the universities many of them go to for sabbathical leave. It's all a selfish fight!

Am not convinced yet about this suspension.. something is telling me that after election, ASUU will resume strike.

kenedy175:
ASUU had to call off because of the forthcoming election. They were under pressure.

This is the first time ASUU will be calling off strike without anything tangible, no cash at hand yet.

The FG may have won at this time. But i hope they keep to there promise which i think is very unlikely.

Prepare for another strike!!

Rochas will be all smiles now. His plans to use students as political thugs coming to reality.

STUDENTS PLEASE SHUN POLITICAL THUGGERY!!! DON'T BE USED!!! THEIR KIDS ARE ABROAD!!!

okay

Lokostic77:
your brain need reset, can't you blame federal government on this issue why pointing bad finger to ASUU means you did not read the article just come here to type poo,, oloshi ayirada

Shut your rubbish opinion into the sewage you call a throat.
Blame federal govt for what exactly?

* Universities already take 50% of the entire education budget and 100% of education tax to the detriment of primary and secondary schools.

* The education budget as low as it is,is actually x 2 of the health sector's budget.

* 100% of the university lecturer's salaries come from the federal govt which is done in few countries in the world.

* They claim FG doesn't fund research yet we have over 3 billion naira in unaccessed funds lying fallow in TETfund HQ simply because Lecturers are too lazy to write applications for grants.

* We spend about 1 trillion on education each year(education budget, Tetfund, NEEDS) with universities taking over 70%. What have they(universities) done to improve the society or quality of life of Nigerians.

* The Nigerian education system is still one of the cheapest in the world.

One of the so called cash and carry universities, Landmark University an Agric based university already pays large sums of its salaries from farm sales. While the pot bellied ASUU members hang around beer parlours spending govt money extravagantly with no thinking of how to better the academic system.

Another so called cash and carry university, Covenant has an industry income of 50% as concluded by PwC and Times Higher which none of your highly subsidized
FG unis can boast of.

I won't be part to blaming FG blindly simply because everyone is looking for govt to be the villain