ASUU: Nigerian Academics Peace Building Team Sets Agenda For Ending FG, Union’s Crisis

BY TEMI OHAKWE, ABUJA – The Nigerian Academics Peace Building Team has tasked the Federal Government to as a matter of national interest consider an exception in its ‘no work no pay’ law for members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

It noted that even though it is a provision of the law, there is however the need for an exemption particularly against the backdrop of the fact that the delay in negotiation with ASUU was caused by the Government.

The Team therefore tasked the government and ASUU to find a common ground and end the over 7months old strike affecting public universities in Nigeria.

The team led by Professor Jibrila D. Amin, Emeritus Prof. Olufemi Bamiro and the former Secretary General of Committee of Vice Chancellors, Prof. Micheal Faborode amongst five other senior academics and former administrators, in a statement issued in Abuja titled; ‘Saving Our University System’, in which they made interventions and recommendations, pleaded for shifting of laws.

The Team urged both parties to shift grounds to end the 50years history of strike in the Nigerian University System.

It recommended that going forward, a clause in the agreement can be framed that all future agreements be negotiated and concluded within a 4-week period.

The Team further said; “On payment of withheld salaries of University academics since March 2022. No Work No pay principle must be applied. Although a provision of the law, an exception can be made since the delay in negotiation was caused by Government.

“Going forward, a clause in the agreement can be framed that all future agreements be negotiated and concluded within a 4-week period,” it said.

The team also appealed to ASUU not to insist on the deployment of the University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS), as salary payment for University staff, stressing that the ecosystem of the university consists of other persons who are not their members.

On ASUU’s demand for immediate release of the sum of N170 billion to complete one branch of Needs Assessment Revitalization Fund in line with 2020 MoA of 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, the Team advised ASUU to accept government’s position, which would see to the fund been included in the 2023 budget.

It also recommended that the National Assembly should be involved in ensuring succeeding government’s compliance with the undertaking of immediate release of the sum of N50b to complete the payment of arrears of earned allowances in line with the 2020 MOA.

Stating its position on the release of white paper, the administrators tasked ASUU to accept government’s position and not make it a core demand.

It further demanded government to expedite action at releasing the White Paper bearing in mind the delay since the submissions of the reports last year.

While affirming its position on Salary Adjustment for Academic Staff being proposed by the government, the Team pleaded for an upward review to end the strike.

It further said; “Government’s view on the recommended increase ought to factor in the pivotal role of universities in driving development. Hence, we plead for an upward review midway, to end the strike”.

The Nigerian Academics Peace Building Team emphasised that the struggle for university autonomy that formed the major point of dispute since 2003 must be contextualised in conversation over IPPIS or UTAS, stressing however that the centralised payment platform for all Federal Universities fundamentally negates the principle of autonomy.

“Global best practice in general and the law establishing the federal universities, vest the power over finances on the Governing Council with the Vice-Chancellor as Chief Accounting Officer.

“The centralisation of salary payment and approval of establishment figures and academic staff recruitment from the office of the Head of Service all negate the core principles on which university governance and administration are founded.

“We make bold to submit that these incursions /features hurt the Nigerian university system very badly,” the Team said.

It also said that ASUU’s ideological stand on the matter of non-payment of tuition fees must be moderated to accommodate this possibility as long as Government puts in place the framework to accommodate intelligent but indigent students.

“ASUU is correct in stating that the industrial dispute has lasted this long because the Federal Government has not shown sufficient commitment toward its resolution. In the same vein, the Federal Government’s position rejecting ASUU’s demands on the adoption of UTAS for payment of salaries to staff of the University is also valid. We must accept these basic facts and move on” the team said.

The academics however stated that whatever is finally agreed must have the stamp of legislation by the National Assembly to make the resolution perpetually binding and sustainable, stressing that it must represent a final end to the spate of strikes in our universities.

Other members of the Team include Senator Dr. Nkechi Nwagogwu, former Pro-Chancellor, University of Calabar, Prof Joe Ahaneku, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Azikwe, Prof. Akpan Ekpo and the serving Secretary General of Committee of Vice Chancellors Of Nigerian Universities, Prof. Yakubu Ochefu.