The Federal Government yesterday admitted that it failed to fulfil agreements reached last year with the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu stated this while briefing State House correspondents, after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo. He said “I must confess government has not fulfilled its part of the bargain, even though we are unhappy that ASUU went on this strike without following due process and giving us good notice, we realised that we promised something and we didn’t fulfil it. “I am sure you are aware of the issues we agreed on. There is the issue of re-negotiation which is the only one they agreed government has done what it promised because we set up the re-negotiation team and negotiation is already ongoing.”
Adamu, who said he would meet the union later yesterday or today, expressed confidence that some agreements would be reached and the strike called off as soon as possible.The minister emphasised that government would not accede to the union’s request for exemption from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) saying “Very sad that I’m here and ASUU is on strike. Late last year, we had a meeting because ASUU gave one week notice of strike and we were able to work out some agreements.
“There is the issue of earned allowances and I think because of some miscommunication what we promised could not be done, but am assuring ASUU and the whole nation that this is going to be done. “There is the issue of registration for Nigerian Universities Pension Commission. I think that one there are few issues that need to be sorted out with the Nigerian Pension Commission, I believe there will be no problem with that.
The minister said the 2010 agreements were due for renegotiation since 2013 but the exercise did not take place because of some unforeseen circumstances. Chairman of the Governing Council, Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu Mohammed Ababakar is to chair the team to renegotiate with polytechnic unions, while the Chairman of Governing Council, Federal College of Education, Obudu, Dr Obi Anthony leads the team to renegotiate with unions in colleges of education.
“The issue of their staff school which I think the court has given them verdict to go ahead with it, they have requested that they should be allowed to stay off TSA and I think government will not do this, but there are some peculiar funds in the university like endowment, which are monies kept and all the interest they generate, prices and so on are given. “Government will exempt that one only, but universities, it is part of the peculiarities, they just must log on. I hope later on when I meet them today (yesterday), there will be total agreement.” Meanwhile, the minister has inaugurated teams to renegotiate the agreements reached with unions in Colleges of Education and Polytechnics in 2010.
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