TheNewsGuru

Tag: ASUU

  • Strike: FG, ASUU in closed-door meeting

    Strike: FG, ASUU in closed-door meeting

    The Federal Government delegation and the leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), are in closed door meeting to discuss lingering crisis and avert strike by the Union.

    The meeting holding on Thursday in the office of the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman,commenced at about 4.30p.m.

    The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu and other top officials in the ministry are in the federal government” team

    The ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, who led the union’s delegation told newsmen that the meeting was to deliberate on lingering issues affecting the universities to avert the planned strike actions.

    “There are a lot of issues that are outstanding within the system and we believe that before now, they would have been takwn care of.

    ‘The issues would have been resolved in line with the promise made by President Bola Tinubu and there will not be strike in the university system.

    “We hope that this meeting will be able to resolve some of these issues so that we can move forward as a country as well as our university system,” he said.

    Earlier, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, said the meeting would provide an opportunity for both parties to rub minds on issues affecting the university system.

    Mamman said that ASUU had earlier written to the ministry, detailing a number of issues and concerns affecting the universities and the union.

    He said that the issues required interactions between the union and government officials to avert any strike proposed by the union.

    NAN reports that the closed door meeting is still ongoing as at the time of filing this report.

    ASUU had threatened to embark on a nationwide strike over the federal government’s failure to meet its demands.

    Osodeke had charged the government to act within two weeks to address all outstanding demands by the union.

  • Remove universities from IPPIS – ASUU urges FG

    Remove universities from IPPIS – ASUU urges FG

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has urged the Federal Government to fulfill its promise to remove its members from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

    Dr Joshua Silas, the Chairman of ASUU, Federal University, Lokoja (FUL) chapter, made the call on Tuesday during a protest by members of the union at FUL campus in Felele, Lokoja.

    Addressing newsmen after the protest, the chairman urged the federal government to implement the re-negotiations of 2009 agreements reached with the national ASUU to prevent resumption of the suspended industrial action.

    “We are carrying out these protests nationwide as directed by the national body of ASUU in solidarity to urge the federal government to promptly meet our demands.

    “The government has failed to meet with our demands regarding the 2009 re-negotiation agreements with the national body of ASUU as promised.

    “A lot has been done and government promised to meet our needs but since 2009 to 2024 till now, nothing has been done because government has failed to honour the agreements.

    “We suspended the last strike in October 2022 with the hope that government would resolve all the outstanding issues, but till today June 25, 2024, nothing has been done.

    “The protest is to call the attention of the general public to be aware and bear us witness that ASUU has been patient enough with the government.

    “Enough is enough; this is totally unacceptable because many of our members have died due to the present economic hardships.

    “We urge the government to do the needful because ASUU should not be blamed for any industrial action anytime from now,” Silas said.

    According to him, the agreements include the removal of ASUU from IPPIS, outstanding academic allowances, revitalization fund, payment of promotion arrears balance as well as withheld salaries, among others.

    Silas noted that the federal government had paid four months out of about eight months outstanding salaries remaining three and half months.

    The protest was carried out by the union members within all the faculties of institutions and terminated at the university gate with chanting of solidarity songs.

    They carried placards with various inscriptions such as: “Remove ASUU from IPPIS, “Release our withheld salaries”, Implement ASUU) FG agreements”, We are not Casual Workers”, among others

    NAN

  • ASUU decries decay in Kano varsity

    ASUU decries decay in Kano varsity

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), YUSUF MAITAMA SULE University Kano (YUMSUK), has expressed concern over the decayed infrastructure in the university.

    The Chairman of the union in the university, Dr Mansur Sa’id stated this at a news conference on Friday in Kano.

    He decried the inability of the state governments to address lingering issues bedeviling the development of the university education system.

    Sa’id condemned the under funding and the dissolution of the Governing Councils of the two state-owned universities, adding that the state government released only 30.3 per cent and 46.2 per cent of the 2023 estimate for the Kano University of Technology (KUST) and YUMSUK, respectively,.

    “ASUU-YUMSUK, therefore, calls on both the Federal and Kano State Government to adequately fund the universities to save them from imminent collapse.

    “We also call on all patriots in the media, civil society, labour movements and student groups to support our altruistic struggle to reposition the Nigerian public universities.

    “The union condemns the government’s antics as they continue to fail in fulfilling the promises they took with a view to addressing the issues in contention, leading to erosion of trust, displeasure and skepticism,” he said

    The union, he said, urged the Federal Government to expedite action to facilitate renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, and resume payment of salary arrears and academic allowances to its members.

    The chairman said the union was also concerned about the insecurity, poverty and rising cost of living in the country.

    “We call on the President Bola Tinubu and Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf, and all relevant stakeholders to work towards reconstituting the committee with a view towards reviewing, signing and implementing the Nimi Briggs-led renegotiated draft agreement,” Sa’id said.

    On his part, Dr Aliyu Ahmad, the Chairman of the union, KUST, urged well meaning Nigerians to intervene towards addressing the impasse and avoid strike by its members.

    “Government’s action to ignore ASUU on the contending issues confirmed the fact that they were not moved by the several clarion calls and efforts the union has made to get it attended,” he said.

    While dismissing the dissolution or absence of Governing Councils in some federal and state universities, Ahmad urged Nigerians to support the union in its campaign to reinvigorate the university education in the country.

  • ASUU threatens fresh strike, gives FG three weeks ultimatum

    ASUU threatens fresh strike, gives FG three weeks ultimatum

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has given the Federal Government a three-week ultimatum to respond to its demands in order to avert a nationwide industrial action.

    Chairperson ASUU Federal University Dutse, FUD, Branch in Jigawa State, Comrade Salim Ahmed gave the warning at an emergency press conference held at FUD, ASUU Secretariat in Dutse.

    Ahmed said the renegotiation of the FGN/ASUU 2009 agreement contains all the core issues of ASUU Members’ welfare, University Autonomy, Funding for the Revitalization of Nigerian Universities and Proliferation of Public Universities.

    He added that ASUU observed that the present administration deliberately ignored the leadership of the union since its inception on 29th May 2023.

    Ahmed said the union is dismayed by the federal government’s unwillingness to address the outstanding issues with the union decisively.

    He added that within the next three weeks, the union would set machinery in motion to mobilize its members further and sensitize them for further action.

    He said, “The Members of the Expanded Executive Officers of the ASUU Federal University Dutse met today, Wednesday, 19th June 2024, to consider and take a look at the patriotic engagements of the union with the Federal and State governments on how best to address all the lingering problems bedeviling Nigerian Public Universities.

    “All efforts were put in place by the leadership of the union to get the government to convene a meeting and listen to ASUU in order to iron out the contending issues, as contained in the International Labour Organization, ILO’s principle of collective bargaining, have failed.

    “Others are release of the unpaid salaries of our members on sabbatical, adjunct, etc due to IPPIS inadequacy and inefficiency, release of third party deductions by IPPIS, payment of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), implementation of the report of the visitation Panels and adoption of UTAS in place of IPPIS.

  • ASUU joins Nationwide strike

    ASUU joins Nationwide strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has instructed its members to join the ongoing strike led by the organized labour.

    The NLC and TUC commenced a nationwide industrial action on Monday in protest against the N60,000 minimum wage proposal of the Federal Government.

    ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, issued a statement on Monday, instructing branch chairpersons and zonal coordinators of ASUU to mobilize lecturers nationwide to participate in the strike as an affiliate of the congress.

    The statement read, “The NLC has declared an indefinite strike action beginning from Monday, 3rd June, 2024, as a result of the failure of Government to conclude the renegotiation of minimum wage for Nigerian workers and reversal of hike in electricity tariff.

    “Our branches are hereby enjoined to join in the strike action as an affiliate member of Congress.

    “Consequently, branch chairpersons are to mobilise all members to participate in the strike action. Yours in the struggle.”

     

  • ASUU cautions against proliferation of universities

    ASUU cautions against proliferation of universities

    Happiness Uduk, the Calabar Zonal Coordinator, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ÀSUU), has described the proliferation of universities in the country as a worrisome trend.

    Uduk, said at a press conference in Uyo on Monday that the trend was not in the interest of the nation’s education sector.

    Uduk said that rather than establish more universities, governments and other stakeholders should ensure adequate funding of the existing ones.

    “The proliferation of universities across the country is not in the best interest of the education sector. The existing ones should be adequately funded.

    “It is better to strengthen the existing universities than to put more stress on the funding system,” she said.

    The coordinator said that what the country needed were universities with the requisite equipment and facilities to enhance learning.

    “We do not need glorified secondary schools, efforts should be made to position our universities for optimal performance,”  she said

    Uduk condemned the education loan policy of the current administration, saying that it will put the students into high indebtedness.

    “Instead of loans, let the money be put into intervention projects in tertiary institutions.

    The coordinator also called for the reinstatement of the suspended academic union leaders in Ebonyi State University.

    She said that the suspended leaders had yet to be reinstated in spite of a judgment of the National Industrial Court in their favour.

    Uduk also urged the Abia Government to pay arrears of 11 months salaries and other allowances owed members of the union.

    She expressed displeasure over the high cost of living in the country, saying, ”many Nigerians are hungry and facing severe hardship”

    Uduk called on the Federal Government to take steps towards reducing the poverty level in the country.

    ASUU leaders from the zone were present at the press conference.

  • ASUU decries FG’s alleged “silent treatment”

    ASUU decries FG’s alleged “silent treatment”

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has decried the silent treatment of the Federal Government (FG) and called for the implementation of the Late Nimi Briggs-led renegotiated agreement.

    The Ibadan Zonal Coordinator, ASUU, Prof. Oyebamiji Oyegoke, said this in the company of other chairpersons in the zone at a news conference in Ibadan on Friday

    Oyegoke said the negotiated salary of its members had not changed since 2009 as the government had yet to commit itself to negotiated welfare packages for the academic staff.

    He identified the pending issues as non-completion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement; inadequate funding of public universities; and non-release of arrears of the Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).

    Others are the albatross of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), the proliferation of universities, the arbitrary dissolution of governing councils of public universities and dictatorship in some Nigerian universities.

    Oyegoke lamented the high number of deaths recorded due to overwork and poor remuneration, saying it lost 60 members from Nov. 2023 till Feb. 2024 apart from the attrition being experienced.

    “We, therefore, call on the Tinubu-led administration to immediately set in motion the process of signing and implementing the Late Nimi Briggs-led renegotiated agreement.

    “ASUU condemns this draconian silence of federal and state governments about this issue that has led to avoidable deaths of many members of our union across the campuses.

    “We hope our union will not be forced to take some unpleasant decisions to address these lingering issues,” he said.

    The union, via its zonal coordinator, also enjoined the FG to adhere strictly to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Establishment Act and ensure proper funding of public universities.

    “Government should revert to quarterly releases of university subventions to enable the institutions to design and implement their salary payment plans under the supervision of their Governing Councils,” he said.

    He decried the dissolution of governing councils in public universities whose tenure had not been completed, calling for their reinstatement.

    Oyegoke also urged both federal and state governments to pay the accumulated promotion arrears, just as it decried nominal promotions without financial backing.

    He called for the end of what it termed dictatorship in some public universities and the reversal of injustice against its members as well as reinstating and adequately compensating those sacked.

    “For the umpteenth time, our union is calling on well-meaning Nigerians, opinion leaders, traditional and religious leaders, media, labour movements, students’ groups and civil society organisations to prevail on federal and state governments to see through our patriotic demands.

    “It is aimed at rescuing the education sector from the abyss into which ‘anti-educational forces’ want to plunge it,” Oyegoke said.

    The new conference had in attendance the following chairpersons in the zone: Prof. Ayoola Akinwole, ASUU-UI; Dr Alex Akanmu, ASUU-UNILORIN and Prof. Babatunde Lawal, ASUU-LAUTECH

    Others include Dr Wende Olaosebikan, ASUU-UNIOSUN; Dr Shehu Salau, ASUU-KWASU and Dr Bamidele Ojo, ASUU-EAUED.

  • ASUU holds peaceful protest in Jos

    ASUU holds peaceful protest in Jos

    Members of the University of Jos Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has organised a peaceful protest over the non implementation of agreement it reached with the Federal Government.

    Prof. Jurbe Molwus, Chairperson of the union in the University led the protest on Tuesday in Jos.

    Members of the union took the protest to the office of the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Tanko Ishaya.

    Presenting the union’s demands to the vice chancellor, Molwus, represented by his vice, Prof. Kiri Jaryum, said that the protest was in line with the directive of its National Executive Council (NEC).

    ”This peaceful protest is in line the 14-day ultimatum issued by our NEC, calling on the Federal Government to honour the agreement reached with it a long time ago.

    ”We are  particularly calling on the federal goverment to pay the balance of the earned academic allowance, unpaid and withheld salaries arrears of our members, which are all captured in the 2023 budget.

    ”Government should also check the proliferation of universities in the country and remove universities from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), among others.

    ”As we speak, university lecturers have been on the same salary structure for 15 years and that’s very bad for the university system,”he said.

    Molwus called on the vice chancellor to transmit the demands to the federal government for immediate action.

    Responding, the vice chancellor commended members of the union for conducting themselves peacefully during the protest.

    He particularly thanked them for not disrupting the ongoing examination and other academic activities in the university.

    Tanko, who described the demands by the union as genuine, promised to transmit them to the government.

    A cross section of students of the university, led by the President of the Student Union Government, Sambo Peter, joined the lecturers for the protest.

  • ASUU calls on govt to address outstanding issues

    ASUU calls on govt to address outstanding issues

    The Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU), National Executive Council (NEC) on Tuesday called on the Federal and State Governments to address all outstanding issues with the union.

    Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, President, ASUU said this in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the ASUU-NEC meeting held at Obefemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife between May 11 to May 12.

    Osodeke said that the union had rejected all the ongoing illegalities and flagrant violation of university autonomy in public universities as a result of non-reinstatement and reconstitution of governing councils.

    He said that NEC observed with dismay the continued erosion of autonomy of public universities, contrary to the provisions of the Universities Miscellaneous Act (1993, 2012).

    He said, “The dissolution of Governing Councils by the present administration has paved way for all manner of illegalities in the Nigerian University System.

    “University administrations now place advertisements for the appointment of Vice-Chancellor without authorisation from the appropriate quarters – the Governing Councils.

    “Outgoing Vice-Chancellors, working in cahoots with the Federal and State Ministries of Education, are illegally running the universities on daily basis.

    “They routinely usurp the powers of governing councils to recruit and discipline staff as well as manage university finances in manners bereft of transparency and accountability.”

    He said that for the past 11 months universities were being run without a governing council which had given room to all sorts of illegalities in the universities system.

    Osodeke said the union undertook a dispassionate and comprehensive review of the status of its engagements with Federal and State Governments on how to reposition Nigeria’s public universities for global reckoning and competitiveness.

    The president also said that the meeting took a critical look at the worsening living and working conditions in universities and the nation at large.

    “The meeting received alarming reports on the failed promises of the Federal and State governments towards addressing the lingering issues that forced the union to embark on the nationwide strike of February-October 2022.

    “As our union has consistently stated, salary awards are no substitutes for a negotiated agreement.

    “Each negotiated Agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria and ASUU is a comprehensive package that captures not the just salary component.

    “But also a gamut of requirements for benchmarking a competitive university system designed for addressing the developmental challenges of Nigeria.

    “ASUU’s demand for negotiated salary and other conditions of service is anchored on the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Convention No. 98 which underscores the principle of collective bargaining.

    “The last FGN/ASUU Agreement was in 2009. Consequent upon the union’s advocacy spanning almost one decade, our union went into the renegotiation with the FGN as in 2017,” he said.

    Osodeke said that NEC shall reconvene after two weeks from the date of the NEC meeting to review the situation and take a decisive action to address the issues.
    On the issue of the indefinite strike in university of Abuja, he said they were fully in support of the action.

  • BREAKING: ASUU vows to embark on another nationwide strike if…

    BREAKING: ASUU vows to embark on another nationwide strike if…

    *Governing councils are not constituted

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has threatened to embark on another nationwide strike to protest absence of governing councils in all federal universities across the country among other issues the government is yet to address.

    The body which recalled that the federal government dissolved governing councils of the universities in May, last year, has asked Nigerians to hold the government responsible for any decision it takes to protest the action of government.

    President of ASUU,Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke,spoke at a press conference which is ongoing at ASUU national secretariat,Abuja.