Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Thursday suspended its nationwide strike after three months. The union suspended the industrial action
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Thursday suspended its nationwide strike after three months. The union suspended the industrial action following its latest meeting with representatives of the Federal Government led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Nigige and asked that universities resume lectures tomorrow.
The nationwide strike which began on Sunday, 4th November, 2018, was a resumed strike action which was conditionally suspended on 14th September, 2017 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, ASUU made it categorically clear that it 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.
According to the union, the recent strike action was situated in the context of accumulated records of indifference and lackadaisical attitude of Government to negotiated agreements with the Union. But after its meeting with representative of the Federal Government yesterday, the union resolved to suspend the strike based on a memorandum of understanding.
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,
- 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,
- 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.
