Education

ASUU Strike: Buhari Vows to Hold More Consultations

By Web News 405

President Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Friday, promised to extend the ongoing consultations between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities to end the seven-month strike.

“I will make further consultations, and I’ll get back to you,” Buhari said to the chairman and select members of Pro-Chancellors of Federal Universities at the State House, Abuja.

According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President promised to engage in further consultations with relevant stakeholders towards ending the protracted strike by university lecturers.

The statement is titled ‘ASUU Strike: President Buhari meets with pro-chancellors of varsities, promises further consultations.’

The President said without necessarily going back on what is already established policy, “I will make further consultations, and I’ll get back to you.”

The Pro-Chancellors were led to the meeting by Professor Nimi Briggs, who said they had come to meet with the President in three capacities: “As President and Commander-in-Chief, as a father of the nation, and as Visitor to the Federal Universities.”

Citing the recent listing of the University of Ibadan among the first 1,000 universities in the world, Briggs noted that “the future of the university system in the country is good,” despite the seven-month industrial action.

Professor Briggs commended the Federal Government for concessions already made to the striking lecturers, including the offer to raise salaries by 23.5 per cent across board, and 35 per cent for Professors.

He, however, asked for “further inching up of the salary, in view of the economic situation of the country.”

Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Education

Dissociate yourself from ASUU strike, Oyo Acting Gov tells LAUTECH

By Web News 775

Oyo State acting governor, Chief Bayo Lawal has called on the management of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, ((LAUTECH), to dissociate itself from the ongoing strike action initiated by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU for the betterment of the students.

He made the call during the stakeholders engagement forum on 2023 budget held at the International Conference Centre of the University of Ibadan.

He noted that the current administration has settled all necessary obligations.

While noting that the ongoing industrial action has affected the economy ,the acting governor said government has met 200 Million naira demand of the institution maintaining that skeletal services would not be condoned.

Earlier, the state Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Professor Musbau Babatunde, noted that the overall aim of the programme was to achieve extensive budget-performance.

Iyabo Adebisi
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Education

Strike: ASUU’s NEC to Meet by 4PM

By Web News 532

The National Executive Council, NEC, of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU will commence its meeting by 4pm Today.

The NEC is the highest decision-making body of ASUU.

The outcome of the NEC meeting will determine whether ASUU will call off its strike which began on Monday, February 14, 2022.

A member of the NEC who confirmed this to The Punch on Sunday said, “The meeting will start by 4 pm”.

ASUU had last week directed its zones and branches to organise congresses following the deadlocked meeting between the union and representatives of the Federal Government.

Some students who spoke to our correspondent expressed fears at the possibility of an indefinite strike.

A student of the University of Ilorin, Tajudeen Sanusi said, “I don’t even want to think about it. I am scared and the idea of an indefinite strike doesn’t speak well to me at all. I am still optimistic though”

Another student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ifeoma Orji, said, “The past six to seven months have been depressing enough for me. I don’t even know what to do at the moment. I am in my final year, the thought of an indefinite strike alone is killing me. We are still hoping that the federal government and ASUU will find a common ground.”

Punch/Maxwell Oyekunle

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Education

ASUU Strike: We’re not quacks – UniOsun VC

By Web News 964

The Osun State University has expressed displeasure with the comment credited to the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Shodeke describing Universities that do not join the ongoing strike as “Quacks”.

The ASUU president had during a television programme taken on some universities who are not part of the strike including the Osun State University, describing them as “Quacks”.

The Vice Chancellor of UniOsun, Professor Odunayo Adebooye who made his reaction while addressing newsmen on the achievements of the university within the last year, said it was unfair to use such language for a university with four hundred and eighty-seven lecturers, out of which three hundred and eighty are PhD holders.

Professor Adebooye said it was uncharitable for a union leader to use such language to disparage reputable public universities just because they are patriotic, concerned about the future of Nigerian youths and see no justification in joining an issue between lecturers of Federal Universities and their employers.

The Vice-Chancellor maintained that UniOsun had recorded significant achievements in the areas of teaching and research, attracting huge grants from reputable organizations and institutions globally, making it one of the top most competitive tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

“Just last week, I got a letter from the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council, informing me of the approval and accreditation of UNIOSUN’s Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme. It is heartwarming to note that the NMDC not only approved the MBBS Programme but increased the admission quota for the programme from 50 to 100.”

He also stated that within the last eight months, the academic staff of the university had won six international research grants worth over three hundred thousand dollars in value and over fifty million naira from the Federal Government spreading across many fields of academic endeavours.

“Through a team led by Professor Monsuru Adeleke, our University has won a research grant of one hundred and one thousand dollars from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Professor Clement Adebooye also leads a team that won fifty-six thousand dollars for a project from the Government of Norway, while Dr Benedict Falana won that of the National Research Foundation grant of South Africa at over five hundred thousand Ranch to work on Cancer”.

The Vice-Chancellor stressed further that as part of the university’s commitment to an uninterrupted academic calendar, the institution is set to commence the 2022/2023 admission exercise for prospectus UMTE/JAMB applicants.

Professor Adebooye who noted that the university was under pressure from those who wanted to change their institution of choice to it, because of its stable academic calendar, added that the school would not exceed its quota.

“We will not overshoot our quota.”

“Our University is known to obey Laws and we shall not break any Law. There is pressure on us from admission seekers, no doubt”. Professor Adebooye added.

Adenitan Akinola

Education

Resolve ASUU Strike in Two Weeks, Buhari Directs Adamu

By Web News 515

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu to resolve the prolonged strike embarked upon by the four university-based unions and report back to him in two weeks’ time.

President Buhari gave the directive on Tuesday after he received briefings from the relevant government Ministries, Agencies and Departments involved in resolving the face-off with the university unions.

Recall that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, had proceeded on a one-month warning strike on February 14, and other unions also withdrew their services after that as a result of the alleged inability of the federal government to meet up with their demands.

The three other unions that embarked on strike are the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Educational Institutions, NASU and the National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT.

President Buhari summoned the Tuesday meeting to receive a briefing from the government team while the strike has lingered for too long.

The President after hearing from the relevant MDA’s directly involved ordered the Minister of Education to ensure that the impasse was resolved within two weeks and report back to him.

Sources at the meeting also said that President Buhari directed that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige must be in any of the meetings to resolve the crisis.

The sources further said that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr. Boss Mustapha should be part of the team to interface with the striking unions.

One of the sources said that the President commended Ngige for his efforts so far to resolve the face-off.

Those at the meeting were the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr. Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Ngige, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, the Chairman of National Salaries Income and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta, the Director-General Budget Office, Ben Akabueze.

Vanguard/Simeon Ugbodovon

 

Transportation

ASUU Strike: Aviation Unions to Join Solidarity Protest

By Web News 440

The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has called on the Federal Government to bring to an end the prolonged strike in the nation’s educational sector.

A statement by its Deputy General Secretary, Comrade Umoh Ofonime, NAAPE on Monday expressed worry over the disagreement between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Comrade Ofonime says the prolonged strike action is having a negative impact on the students in public universities across the country.

ASUU commenced a nationwide strike on February 14 over the adoption of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) of the government as the payment system in the university system, and poor funding of universities, among other issues.

NAAPE as a result of the ASUU strike promised to join the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to commence a nationwide protest on Tuesday and Wednesday next week in solidarity with the trade unions in the public universities.

Full statement below:

OUR CHILDREN IN THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS CAN NOT REMAIN AT HOME IN PERPETUITY

The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has observed with regret how the Federal Government of Nigeria is treating the crises in the educational sector of the country whereby due to strikes, teaming Nigerian students have remained at home for over four (4) months.

The refusal of the Federal Government to honour the agreement signed with the union since 2009 is very disturbing considering the negative impact the prolonged strike will create in the life of these children.

NAAPE, therefore, completely support the position of the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to embark on a nationwide protest on July 26 and 27, 2022 in solidarity with the trade unions in the Nigeria Public Universities and others.

By this, the National Administrative Council have directed all branch chairmen/secretaries are requested to disseminate this information to all the members in their various branches to participate in the solidarity protest in their various states as follows:

Venue: All the states’ capitals of the federation and Abuja the federal capital
Take off Point:   NLC State Secretariats and the Labour House, Abuja.
Kindly comply as directed.

Umoh Ofonime T.
Deputy General Secretary

Education

ASUU strike: We are waiting for FG – Lecturers

By Web News 596

The striking Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has said it is awaiting the response of the Federal Government on its demands.

Federal Government’s renegotiation committee headed by Professor Nimi Briggs met with ASUU leadership on Monday, in continuation of the renegotiation of the FGN-ASUU 2009 agreements with the four university unions, which are all currently on strike.

ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, while speaking with newsmen said that the meeting was fair, and they were expecting the government to respond to the issues they discussed with the committee.

When asked if ASUU would call the strike off soon since it had a fair deliberation with Briggs committee, Osodeke said, ‘‘I don’t know if we are calling off the strike soon. We are waiting for the final response from the government.

“It is a committee of different government agencies. They need to go back to their principal and look at what we agreed on and then get back to us. When they respond to us, we will give you full details.”

He revealed that University Transparency and Accountability Solution is still undergoing tests by National Information Technology Development Agency, adding that ASUU has had three meetings with the Federal Government’s committee.

Professor Osodeke also said there was no new invitation from the committee.

He said, “They will call us when they are ready for another meeting, but none for now. We have had about three meetings with them.’’

ASUU commenced its ongoing strike on February 14, 2022, after the Federal Government failed to meet some of its demands including, the release of revitalisation funds for universities, renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, release of earned allowances for university lecturers, and deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution.

Punch/Adetutu Adetule

Education

ASUU Strike: UI Students Unrelenting, Block Roads

By Web News 588

Students of the University of Ibadan have continued their protest with the blockage of the Sango-Ojoo, Bodija road axis.
 

The students were protesting the unresolved issues between the Academic Staff Union of universities, ASUU, and the Federal Government leading to the closure of federal universities in the country three months ago.
 

Speaking with Radio Nigeria, one of the leaders of the protesting student, a 200 Level student in the Department of Sociology, Mr. Solomon Emiola, said Federal Government has shown a lackadaisical attitude towards the demands of their lecturers, saying the strike had affected their study duration in the university.

“We are tired. We have stayed at home for over three months at home doing nothing. We are tired of this protracted ASUU strike that has gone on for over 85 days. we are doing nothing at home”

Mr. Emiola said various avenues for peaceful dialogue had been engaged with Federal Government in a bid toward finding an amicable resolution to the crises.

 He said the protest would be sustained until the demands of the striking lecturers were met.

The protest almost turned violent yesterday when a military van arrived at the scene and forced its way through the protesters.

The blockage of the highway by the student had not only led to many passengers being stranded but also built heavy traffic within Orogun and Agbowo communities as motorists explored alternative routes within the neigbouring communities

Rotimi Famakin

Education

OAU Students Protest ASUU Strike

By Web News 617

Scores of students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, today converged on the entrance of the University to protest the extension of Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU’s strike by three-month.

The students who trooped out in their large numbers marched along the Ife-Ibadan express way, a development which caused gridlock and hindered vehicular movement in the area.
The students who are under the aegis of Fund Education Coalition, chanted various solidarity songs.
Armed with placards with  various inscriptions such as  “Fund Education Now”, “Education is not a Scam” among others, as they chanted “End ASUU Strike”, the protesting students vowed to continue the protest till their demands were met by the Federal Government.
As the protesting students increased in numbers, moving towards the Ipetumodu roundabout, they were joined by some concerned members of the public.
One of the protesting Students, Olugbade Majeed said they would continue to stage protests until government honour the initial agreement it had with the ASUU.
Majeed said: ” We are protesting because the Government has failed the educational system in Nigeria. And they have not met the demands of ASUU which they had been signed since 2009.We have been at home for three months. 
“This particular Government has been showing nonchalant attitude towards education by engaging in Electoral Activities while students are at home idle. You will agree with me that an idle hand is the devil’s workshop. 
“We don’t want to be turned to criminal elements, we don’t want to be turned to Yahoo Yahoo, we don’t want to be turned to prostitutes and that’s why we are agitating for our right.
“We are on the street to let our voices be heard because we can not continue to suffer in silence. Nothing has worked out under this government. No security. We are all aware that nowhere is safe in this country. Yet, government does not seem it fit to respond positively to the challenges confronting the education sector in the country.
If there is proper education in Nigeria, there won’t be security threats as we’re  having now, because proper and well educated persons will shy away from criminal activities,” he said.
As of the time of filling this report , Osun State Commissioner of police, Mr Wale Olokode was in the midst of the protesters to ensure that  there was no break down of law and order. 
Mr Olokode appealed to the students to allow government and ASUU reach compromise,noting that their protest would affect the livelihood of other people.


Adenitan Akinola

Education

Reactions Trail Suspension Of ASUU Strike

By Web News 702

On March 23 when the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, began its industrial action, many students felt it was not going to last long but this was not the case as the strike lingered beyond earlier expectations.


Several meetings and discussions between the federal government and ASUU deadlocked, a situation that caused most students and parents serious distress.


Different protests and Social media campaigns were launched to pressure ASUU into ending the strike action.


After eight long months after, the industrial action has eventually been called off.
How did the students receive the news and what were their expectations?


A cross-section of university students in Ibadan gave different submissions.


Some parents who spoke with Radio Nigeria called on ASUU to ensure academic activities resume intensively in order to make up for lost time.


The parents also expressed worry that the length of the industrial action would impact negatively on the lives of the students.
They also implored the students to focus on their education.


An educationist, Dr Fasasi noted that calling off the strike was good news but urged school authorities to maintain a normal calendar for qualitative education.


He then urged the government to always honour its agreements with the union while advising the unions to be considerate in their demands.


Dr Fasasi also charged students be more dedicated and diligent in their academics.

Adedayo Adelowo

Education

ASUU Announces Suspension of Strike

By Web News 613

Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has suspended its 9-month-old strike after exhaustive deliberations with the federal government.

The union suspended the strike following its National Executive Council, NEC meeting, held at the Comrade Festus Iyayi National Secretariat Complex on Tuesday, 22nd December, 2020.

The National President of ASUU, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi who announced the suspension in Abuja said the union and the federal government unanimously resolved the seven contentious issues that led to the strike.

Professor Ogunyemi said the resolved issues are Funding for Revitalization of Public Universities, Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), Salary Shortfall, State Universities, Visitation Panels, Reconstitution of the Government Renegotiating Team and the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

Professor Ogunyemi stressed that to avoid further strike in the university system, the union expects government to faithfully implement all the agreements reached and signed and release EAA as agreed, and the mainstreaming of EAA into annual budget using the agreed formula.

Similarly, he urged the government to expedite action on the test process and ensure the deployment of UTAS for the payment of salaries in the university system while expressing the need for the FGN/ASUU re-negotiation exercise to conclude as specified in the timelines agreed by both parties.

ASUU embarked on an indefinite strike on 23rd March, 2020.

Daniel Adejo

Education

As ASUU/FG Faceoff Continues…

By Web News 760

On March 23 2020, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, began an indefinite strike over non-implementation of some of their demands.

The industrial action has been having adverse effect and educational system.

As the industrial action drags into the eight month, OkikiJesu Olugboyega examines the pains and gains of the strike action on students.

Okikijesu Olugboyega

Education

UI Students Protest Lingering ASUU Strike In Ibadan

By Web News 1226

Students of the University of Ibadan have staged a peaceful protest against the prolonged academic closure occasioned by the lingering face-off between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

Correspondent Rotimi Famakin who was at the Federal Secretariat, Ikolaba where the students converged for the protest reported that the students carried placards with different inscriptions and chanted solidarity songs.

Rotimi Famakin