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Tag: Universities

  • ASUU Strike: We’re studying directive issued by Universities Commission – VCs

    ASUU Strike: We’re studying directive issued by Universities Commission – VCs

     

    Vice-Chancellors of Public universities in Nigeria have said that they are currently studying the letter issued by the Federal government through the National Universities Commission NUC, ordering them to reopen schools and allow students to resume lectures.

    The Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Prof. Yakubu Aboki Ochefu made this known on Monday, in response to the directive issued by the NUC.

    According to Ochefu, the directive by the Universities Commission is to further communicate court order to the Vice chancellors and asking them to comply to court order issued last Wednesday by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

    He added that in order to forestall future strike after reopening the institutions, the vice chancellors are studying the letter from NUC so as not reopen the schools and still discover that the members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU are still on strike.

    “The directive is basically communicating the court order to the VC’s and asking them to comply.

    “The VC’s are studying this in view of the appeal by ASUU so as not to reopen and find that ASUU is still on strike”, he said.

    The Federal Government through the National Universities Commission had ordered vice-chancellors to re-open schools and allow students resume lectures.

    The directive was made known in a letter signed by the Director, Finance and Accounts of the NUC, Sam Onazi, on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the commission, Professor Abubakar Rasheed.

  • Gbajabiamila wants stringent conditions for new universities

    Gbajabiamila wants stringent conditions for new universities

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has called for introduction of stringent conditions for establishment of universities in the country, to ensure high standard.

    Gbajabiamila said this at Wednesday’s plenary in Abuja. He was speaking on a report of a bill for the establishment of Federal University, Daura, Katsina State.

    He said that the conditions would prevent the proliferation of universities in the country.

    “There is a balance between demands by constituents and what is good when we know what is right.

    “I think this matter will be resolved when we pass the National University Commission (NUC) bill, where perhaps, we can make establishment of universities more stringent.

    “Otherwise, you will run into a situation where a state government or whoever will just come, get a building or three buildings together and say they want a university,” he said.

    According to him, the stringent measures will be in place until such a time when the government is no longer funding universities, then you can have 200 in a state.

    Earlier, Deputy Speaker Ahmed Wase, faulted the speaker’s position on the matter, saying that many lawmakers have promised their constituents that they would attract tertiary institutions to their areas.

    According to him, this is because some lawmakers have promised their constituents a tertiary education.

    Also, Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu (PDP-Delta) said that the lawmakers were under pressure from constituents on the establishment of university.

    “In my opinion, I think it is not wise to shut down every voice or every member on this floor as it relates to sponsoring a bill for the establishment of either college of education or polytechnic or university in their various communities.

    “I said this because when you go tot he constituencies and you are talking to the constituents, most often, the first thing they ask you is; why are you not bringing any school to your constituency?

    “And when you say it is not possible and they see your colleagues sponsoring same bills for the establishment of universities, it becomes a negative for you as an individual who is representing them

    “So, whether it is assented to by the President or not, it is not the issue; the issue is that member is able to show that he has the interest of his or her constituents at heart,” he said.

    Rep. Ifeayi Momoh (APGA-Anambra) faulted the transport university, Daura, establishment bill, saying that the National Institute of Transportation Technology (NITT), Zaria should be upgraded rather than establishing a new university.

    “I am just thinking aloud because we have the NITT -Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology – in Zaria

    “When there is an institute of transport technology, which deals with the science of transportation itself, why are we now looking at establishing a Federal University of Transportation?

    “We can amend the enabling law and upgrade NITT to a federal university; the constant proliferation of universities in our country is not helping us,” he said.

  • ASUU knocks COPSON over comments on collective bargaining

    ASUU knocks COPSON over comments on collective bargaining

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Thursday advised the Committee of Pro-chancellors of State Owned Universities in Nigeria (COPSON) to stop playing to the gallery.

    ASUU said the committee should learn from their counterparts in the Federal universities who were impressing on the government to do the needful for public universities.

    This is contained in a statement on Thursday by the Convener, ASUU Rapid Response, Prof. Ade Adejumo, entitled: “COPSON: Stoking the Blaze of Discord”.

    Adejumo said that no amount of threats would make the union stop fighting for quality education and welfare of its members.

    ASUU was reacting to the communique issued at the end of the meeting of COPSON where they said the government should enforce “No Work No Pay” and that the centrally agreed negotiations would not be binding on them.

    Adejumo said that COPSON needs to understand that the principle of collective bargaining was sanctioned by the law.

    He asked COPSON to explain “why have they not insisted that policies and directives of central regulatory bodies like JAMB, NUC and NYSC are not binding on them?”

    Adejumo said, “ASUU is one, a thousand communique and threats from COPSON cannot break our ranks and iron resolve to see this struggle and any other one in the future to its successful end.”

    He asked the pro-chancellors to provide evidence where they have improved the salaries and welfare of their schools.

    Adejumo said that the pro-chancellors of state universities “are always eager to run to Abuja to collect money from TETFUND which was brought into existence by ASUU.

    “But, only wonder whether some people’s consciences go on holiday when they sit down to make certain pronouncements.

    “These indeed are grave moments. Ominous signs on the horizon for our education system.

    “The latest assault on the university system in Nigeria is captured by the communique released by the committee of pro-chancellors of state universities.

    “The ‘ fatuwah’ declared on the principle of collective bargaining by a duly registered union like ASUU for its members is quite worrisome.

    “If we may ask, what is the function of a union if not to see to the welfare of its members?

    “Why is COPSON fixated on the curious idea that centrally negotiated salaries by ASUU with the government will not be binding on them when they have always been represented in such negotiations?

    “Why have they not insisted that policies and directives of central regulatory bodies like JAMB, NUC and NYSC are not binding on them? Why is COPSON behaving like Chichidudu of Ayi Kwei Armah’s tale?,” he said.

  • ASUU And Its Phantom Work Policy

    ASUU And Its Phantom Work Policy

     

    By Mohammad Umar Salihu and Akinloye James

    The decision of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, NASU and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU to call off their strike and return to their duty posts has isolated the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
    While agreeing that the government has met all its conditions, ASUU is holding out from resuming work on the claim that the government should pay the lecturers for the months that they did not work.
    That is the sticking point that has now opened the ASUU activists to the claim of being selfish and turning what they initially claimed to be a selfless struggle for the upliftment of the universities into an egocentric venture.
    it is worthy of note that SSANU and NASU have agreed to resume without the selfish demand of being paid for the months they were at home.
    ASUU on its part is claiming that they are different, on the claim that they are going to teach the things that they didn’t teach.
    The ASUU activists are carrying on as if they alone carry out the work of academia forgetting that the NASU, SSANU are also facilitators who with other stakeholders jointly contribute to the outputs from the universities.
    Indeed, if you are Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), you believe universities exist for the benefit of their teaching staff.
    When Professor Osodeke appeared on Channels Television on Friday morning you could see the difficulties of the normally friendly anchors who found it difficult to accept the sense of entitlement he sought to browbeat them with. The anchors could not understand why the lecturers should be paid for work not done.
    “If they fail to pay, we will not teach those students” Professor Osodeke said. “Those students” are nothing more than a distraction for Osodeke, whose key demand is that his members are paid for work they have not done – because they have been on strike.
    For a country that has had historical experiences with phantom experiences including phantom coups, the bid by ASUU to now introduce phantom work is laughable.
    We cannot as a country accept that persons should be paid for not working, and certainly not paid for causing untold damage to the institutions they work for when they are not striking. Worse, to agree to Osodeke’s egregious demands would be to open the door for any public servant or even private employee to demand payment for nothing.
    Even more, as Osodeke admitted during his difficult session with Channels, ASUU like every union has a strike fund from where its members are paid during a strike.
    As such the demand by ASUU for back pay is now equivalent to its members getting double pay for doing nothing.
    Indeed, the real victims here are “those students”. They contribute through their fees to the maintenance of the academic institutions to which Osodeke’s members are contracted but choose not to work.

    “Those students” are studying to improve their futures, and that of the country. But they cannot move forward because of Osodeke.

    Already Nigerian students take longer to graduate than in many other countries. Strikes, walkouts, and refusal to grade studies adds more than a year, on average, to each student’s time at university. This adds to their costs, their debts, and takes them late into the qualified jobs market. It also makes many thousands who might otherwise choose higher education to think twice about enrolling, and therefore not advance themselves even when they are capable.

    In any industrial dispute, there comes a point when continuing with the action threatens to damage the very institutions and purpose of their existence.

    This moment was averted by the leaders of NASU and SSANU. It is not being averted by the president of ASUU. Indeed, worse: he is purposely and intentionally sacrificing the futures of “those students” and damaging the very institutions on which his members depend – all to prove his belief that universities exist solely for the financial benefit of their teaching staff.

    Mohammed is chairman of The Nigerian Project Initiative and James is chairman of Initiative to Save Democracy

  • ASUU laments over brain drain from Universities due to unending strike

    ASUU laments over brain drain from Universities due to unending strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities has cried out over exodus of lecturers from the nation’s universities for greener pastures abroad due to the lingering industrial action it embarked on since last February.

    The union attributed the development to the Federal Government’s poor treatment of its members which it said had forced many to venture into other sources of livelihood.

    The National President, ASUU, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, who made this disclosure at the weekend lamented that many lecturers had taken to farming and other economic activities, while a large number had left the country.

    Osodeke spoke in reaction to the government’s refusal to meet some of their demands, including the payment of seven months’ backlog of salaries accrued during the strike.

    It could be recalled that the union had embarked on four strikes totalling 578 days under the Muhammadu Buhari regime. The current strike by ASUU started on February 14, 2022, and entered its day 188 on Monday (today).

  • COMPENSATION: Minister of Education advises university students to sue ASUU over six-month strike

    COMPENSATION: Minister of Education advises university students to sue ASUU over six-month strike

    The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, has called on the affected students of the six-month strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to “take ASUU to court” and claim damages incurred over the strike period.

     

    Adamu stated this at the 47th Session of the State House Ministerial Briefing organized by the Presidential Communications Team at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

     

    He noted that ASUU has to compensate students for the time wasted during the six-month strike.

     

    The Minister stressed that the damages students suffered following the six months of no academic activities were not caused by the Federal Government.

     

    According to him, the government will not concede to the union’s demand to pay lecturers their emoluments for the six months of no academic activities.

     

    He asserted that the federal government bears no liability to compensate millions of students grounded for six months over lost time.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that ASUU has been on strike since February 14 this year, while non-teaching staff unions have also embarked on industrial action over a month ago.

     

    Though the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, had met with the leadership of SSANU, NAAT, and NASU, nothing concrete came out of the meetings.

     

    Speaking on the situation earlier, the National President of the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria, NAPTAN, Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, expressed disgust with the continued closure of the universities.

     

    He said: “We cannot continue to waste the time of our children. They are staying much at home than in school now. It is unfortunate that we are yet to get over the issue of the closure of our higher institutions incessantly. That is a minus for the system. How do we expect foreigners to respect our certificates?

     

    “Incidentally, it is not everybody that can afford to send their children abroad to study. We must make our education sector work and put an end to this rot. We plead with the government and the university workers to find a mid-course and resolve this issue and let academic activities resume in these institutions.”

  • ASUU rejects plan to hike tuition fees in public universities

    ASUU rejects plan to hike tuition fees in public universities

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has rejected the proposed plan by the Federal Government to hike tuition fees in Nigerian universities.

    Dr Lazarus Maigoro, Chairman of the University of Jos chapter of the union, made this known on Tuesday in Jos, during the nationwide peaceful protest organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

    Newsmen reports that the NLC embarked on a nationwide protest in solidarity with the ASUU and other affiliate unions, over the unresolved industrial dispute between the Federal Government and the lecturers.

    Maigoro, who alleged that the government was planning to hike tuition to N750, 000 per student, re-iterated that the ongoing strike was aimed at pushing for their demands, as well as making government address the contending issues.

    He insisted that if tuition fee was increased, the children of the common man would invariably be denied access to university education.

    “Government is planning to increase the tuition fee in public universities to N750,000 and this not acceptable to us in ASUU.

    “We will not accept it today, tomorrow or forever; if that happens the children of the poor and common people can not go to university.

    “So, this strike is not about us, but about the future of education in Nigeria, and this is why we are insisting that government must fund education because it is its responsibility to do so,” he said.

    Maigoro, however, appealed to the Federal Government to implement the agreement it entered with the union in 2009, in the interest of Nigeria’s future generation and the development of the university system.

    He particularly advised the government to implement the University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS), as a payment platform for all universities in the country.

  • ASUU to query universities not in compliance with ongoing strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) has threatened to query universities that have failed to comply with its decision to remain on strike while negotiations with the Federal Government continue.

    ASUU President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, said this in an interview with newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

    Thenewsguru.com recall that ASUU had been on strike for the past five months to press home its demands.

    The striking lecturers’ demands include, funding for the revitalisation of public universities, Earned Academic Allowances, University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) and promotion arrears.

    Others are the renegotiation of 2009 ASUU-FG Agreement and the inconsistency in Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS).

    Newsmen, however, reports that since the union embarked on strike, few of its members have pulled out of the ongoing strike to resume their academic activities.

    According to Osedeke, we will punish those who have pulled out from our ongoing strike the appropriate way.

    “We will ensure to query them and we will follow it up the appropriate way. We have even queried some of them in accordance with the union,’’ he said.

    Osedeke also noted that since the last Tripartite Plus meeting called by the Chief of Staff to the President on the ongoing industrial action over a month ago, there has been no other meeting.

    He said that there was nothing concrete that came out of the last meeting that was held at the villa.

    “We have not been called for any other meeting since that time and government did not offer us anything, they just ask us to meeting with the committee that was all.

    He also said that the union will be meeting with government within the week.

  • Presidential aspirant vows to end ASUU’s perennial strike

    Presidential aspirant vows to end ASUU’s perennial strike

    Mrs Ruby Isaac, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), has pledged to work toward ending the perennial Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike in the country.

    Isaac said this on Tuesday at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja when she spoke with newsmen.

    She also promised to salvage dysfunctional public institutions in the country, saying that quality and functional education was a catalyst for national development.

    “It is shameful to see education stakeholders who have not performed well now vying for elective positions while the system suffers and youths suffer longevity in studying short-term courses as a result of their insensitivity and selfishness.

    “Nigerian leaders deliberately ignored proffering solutions to the nations problem because of greed, selfishness and self-service.

    “But if I am given the opportunity to serve in the capacity of the president, I will ensure that identified problems that hinder national progress such as ASUU strikes would be given permanent solutions.

    “I will also ensure that children of elected public officers are made to school within the country and not outside the country,” she said.

    She added: “This is one major way to end a dysfunctional educational system, because no elected officer would sit back and watch his or her child remain in school for so long.”

    She promised to strive hard to reduce to the barest minimum, the number of out-of-school children in the country.

    “We will do this by creating and enforcing legislation that will make it compulsory for parents/guardians to send their children/wards to school at least up to the secondary level of education,” she said

    She also promised to pay special attention to girl-child education, especially in Northern Nigeria.

    The aspirant also pledged to address infrastructure deficit in Nigeria, which has been identified as most challenging factor in doing business in the country.

    She pledged to offset the nations foreign debt as well as end further borrowings.

    According to her, to clear a nations debt without further borrowings, the country must become resourceful and generate its funds internally.

    “We will diversity into every untapped natural resource that we have like rubber and ensure that our economy becomes a multidimensional economy,” she said.

    She promised to use the party’s strategies to tackle poverty, overhaul the police and other sister agencies for better results.

  • BREAKING: ASUU extend its ongoing strike till August

    BREAKING: ASUU extend its ongoing strike till August

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday extended its ongoing strike for another 12 weeks.

    This was disclosed in a statement signed by ASUU president, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke.

    Osodeke said this was to give the government enough time to satisfactorily resolve all the outstanding issues.

    The roll-over strike takes effect from 12:01 a.m. on May 8, 2021.

    The decision was taken after the ASUU National Executive Council meeting which started on Sunday night at the Comrade Festus Iyayi National Secretariat, University of Abuja.

    At the meeting, ASUU accused the Federal Government of being unserious.

    ASUU is demanding the release of revitalization funds for universities, renegotiation and implementation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement.