… As FG denies signing agreement with ASUU
KANO – The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kano Zone, has called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.
The Zonal Coordinator, Mr Abdulkadir Muhammad made the call at a news briefing on Thursday in Kano.
He listed the issues of concern to include the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement; sustainable funding of public universities; victimisation of ASUU members of LASU, and Prince Abubakar Audu University.
Others, he said, were non-payment of 25/35 per cent salary arrears; non-payment of promotion arrears for over four years; and refusal to remit third-party deductions.
Muhammad said the union was demanding the immediate signing and implementation of the report of the Yayale Ahmed-led Committee to avert a looming industrial crisis in public universities.
He said that the government’s refusal to review salaries and improve the working conditions of lecturers for over 16 years had pauperised, demoralised and demotivated lecturers across the country.
“The lecturers have run out of patience and evidently we cannot guarantee industrial harmony in our public universities.
“We call on our students, parents, civil society organisations, media and other well-meaning Nigerians to join hands with ASUU to save Nigerian public universities from imminent collapse,’’ he said.
Muhammad also expressed concern over worsening insecurity; high cost of living; rising poverty and widening wealth inequality in the country.
He said that Nigerians were being kidnapped, maimed and killed almost on a daily basis by bandits, kidnappers and insurgents, leaving thousands internally displaced.
“Many communities and property of innocent citizens had been vandalised and destroyed by criminal elements.
“We remind governments at all levels of their constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property of citizens,’’ Muhammad said.
In another development, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has clarified that the Federal Government has not signed any binding agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), stressing that the document being circulated is only a draft.
Alausa made this known in Abuja on Thursday while responding to questions from journalists on the ongoing nationwide protests by ASUU.
He explained that contrary to public perception, no binding deal exists between the government and the union, adding that President Bola Tinubu has mandated the ministry to find a lasting solution to the lingering issues to keep Nigerian students in school.
According to him, the administration is committed to realistic, constitutionally backed solutions, not “bogus or unsustainable agreements.”
“We are committed to solving this problem once and for all. What has lingered since the 2009 and 2021 agreements will now be addressed sustainably. The President has made it clear that every promise made to ASUU and Nigerians will be fulfilled truthfully and honestly,” he said.
The minister further assured that ASUU’s protests would not snowball into strike action as government has been engaging the union “continuously and meticulously.”
He disclosed that a high-level meeting of stakeholders was held on August 28, attended by the Ministers of Education, Labour, and Justice, the Solicitor-General of the Federation, as well as Permanent Secretaries and heads of key agencies, including the National Universities Commission (NUC), Salaries and Wages Commission, and the Budget Office.
Alausa said the meeting reviewed ASUU’s proposals line by line, which would now be fine-tuned by the technical committee and submitted to the Yayale Ahmed-led team renegotiating the 2009 FG/ASUU Agreement.
“We want an agreement where every component is actionable and feasible. Nigerians can be assured that this government will keep our schools open and ensure our children remain in classrooms,” he stressed.
He also noted that, unlike in the past, the Ministry of Justice would be fully involved to ensure agreements comply with constitutional provisions
