Breaking: FG Shuns ASUU, Announces Date For Inauguration Of Universities Governing Councils

The Federal Government has announced that the Governing Councils of Federal universities, polytechnics and other tertiary institutions will be inaugurated on July 4, 2024. This comes amidst the rejection from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) regarding the composition of the newly constituted governing councils for federal universities across Nigeria. According to Prof Osodeke, the new list of council members is dominated by retired politicians rather than experts in academia or relevant fields. ASUU’s national President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, expressed concerns last week in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, highlighting a worrying trend in the appointment process. Recall that President Bola Tinubu approved the reconstitution of the Governing Councils and Boards of federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. In an earlier statement, the Permanent Secretary, General Services, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Nnamdi Mbaeri, noted that the approval was given for the effective management of Nigerian tertiary institutions across the country. According to Punch, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Aisha Maikudi, announced the inauguration date during her acceptance speech on Monday, while assuming the institution’s affairs. A total of 560 individuals were appointed to the governing councils and boards of Federal Government-owned tertiary institutions. For the University of Ibadan, the President appointed Chief Bisi Akande as the Chairman of the governing council. The board members are Alexander Ajipe, Nelson Alapa, Ifeoma Nwankwo, and Prof. Emmanuel Alo. Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) was appointed as the Chairman of the governing council of the University of Lagos. The council members are Bello Kumo, Prof. Idowu Mark, Niyi Akande, and Bola Njoku. Isa Yuguda chairs the board of the National Open University. The council members are Goddy Etta, Yomi Balogun, Deborah Apah, and Hingah Biem. Siyan Oyeweso was appointed to head the governing council of Obafemi Awolowo University, while Edward Sarki, Joseph Abaagu, Wahaab Owokoniran, and Abubakar Kachaalla are members of the council. Adebayo Shittu, Muiz Banire, and Senator Florence Ita Giwa were appointed as the chairpersons of the governing boards for David Umahi University of Medicine in Ebonyi State, Federal University of Transportation in Katsina State, and Federal Polytechnic in Ugep, Cross River State, respectively among others.

ASUU begs Nigerians to urge FG to meet union’s demands

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged Nigerians to intervene with the federal government (FG) to fulfill its requests for improved welfare and administrative conditions in public universities. This plea was made during a press conference held at Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu, on Friday. Happiness Uduk, the zonal coordinator for ASUU Calabar zone, emphasized that unless the state and federal governments meet the union’s demands, a nationwide strike is likely unavoidable. ASUU has given a two-week ultimatum for these demands to be addressed, warning of impending industrial action if not met. Uduk expressed disappointment over the FG’s failure to honor commitments made under the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement, citing stagnant salary scales and overall welfare deficiencies as ongoing concerns. She said: “Government had an agreement with ASUU in 2009, which tells us that for 15 years running, ASUU members have been on the same salary scale, nothing has changed. “We are requesting that government should complete negotiations it started with us more than 13 years ago, first with the Babalakin-led team, then the Munzali-led team, finally the Briggs-led team. “These people had completed the negotiations, and if the negotiations had been completed and Mr President had the document, we don’t know why, for a year now, he has not called us to talk to us about it. “So, the government should, as a matter of urgency, address our renegotiation and take into account current realities, including inflation rate, exchange rate and whatever needs to go into that,” Ms Uduk said. She called on the federal and state governments to address issues bordering on revitalisation funds for public universities, payment of earned  academic allowances and withheld salaries, high taxation and victimisation of ASUU members She also said that ASUU strongly insisted on the removal of its members in federal universities from the Integrated Personnel Payroll System (IPPIS). Ms Uduk further said that the high rate of taxation experienced by ASUU members was a result of “the introduction of an obnoxious platform” for salary payment. “Whatever government has in mind with regards to that, it should use our University Transparency and Accountability Solution or any other platform that would originate from universities rather than the IPPIS,” she said. She advised that the FG’s students loan scheme be replaced with grants which, she said, would alleviate financial stress on students and improve their academic pursuit. Ms Uduk called on the FG to stop the proliferation of universities and focus on better funding for the existing ones to improve overall standards within the existing institutions. She also advocated for the quick resolution of the minimum wage debacle and the introduction of a living wage that was obtained in saner climes. On Abia, the ASUU zonal coordinator called on the Abia government to pay the 11 months salary arrears owed to lecturers in ABSU. “We are not negotiating any part of that salary for anything because we have worked, taught students and examined them, and some of them have graduated,” Ms Uduk said. She urged the Abia government to discontinue the use of Treasury Single Account in the payment of ABSU lecturers’ salaries and address the recent inconsistency in the payment of salaries. According to her, the government is owing April, May and June salaries. “Let the Abia Government leave payment in the hands of the university administrators and a platform that is consistent with the institution’s

Strike: Nigerian govt, ASUU in closed-door meeting

The Federal Government delegation and the leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, are in closed door meeting to discuss lingering crisis and avert strike by the Union. The meeting holding on Thursday in the office of the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman,commenced at about 4.30p.m. The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu and other top officials in the ministry are in the federal government” team The ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, who led the union’s delegation told newsmen that the meeting was to deliberate on lingering issues affecting the universities to avert the planned strike actions. “There are a lot of issues that are outstanding within the system and we believe that before now, they would have been taken care of. ‘The issues would have been resolved in line with the promise made by President Bola Tinubu and there will not be strike in the university system. “We hope that this meeting will be able to resolve some of these issues so that we can move forward as a country as well as our university system,” he said. Earlier, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, said the meeting would provide an opportunity for both parties to rub minds on issues affecting the university system. Mr Mamman said that ASUU had earlier written to the ministry, detailing a number of issues and concerns affecting the universities and the union. He said that the issues required interactions between the union and government officials to avert any strike proposed by the union.

Again, ASUU Rejects New University Governing Councils

The ding-dong between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over the appointment of Governing Councils continues as the latter voiced disappointment regarding the composition of the new membership of the governing councils for federal universities. ASUU’s national president, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, expressed these concerns in a recent interview with the Nigerian Tribune, highlighting a worrying trend in the appointment process. According to Prof Osodeke, the new list of council members is dominated by retired politicians rather than experts in academia or relevant fields. “Most of them are retired politicians. They are honourable this and honourable that,” Osodeke remarked, questioning the suitability of such appointments for the strategic development of higher education institutions in the country. Prof Osodeke further criticized the new list as being worse than its predecessor, indicating a regression rather than progress in the appointment policies. “Go and look at the list again, you will see that most of them are retired politicians. That is how terrible the thing has become,” he lamented. ASUU also raised issues beyond the qualifications of the appointed individuals. The union pointed out that the formation of new councils was procedurally flawed and possibly illegal. The Federal Government had dissolved the previous councils over ten months ago before their tenures had expired, contrary to the stipulations of the University Act. ASUU argued that these members should have been allowed to complete their terms instead of assembling a new council, which seems to overlook legal frameworks. The union emphasized that university education should not be subject to partisan politics if Nigeria aspires to achieve real educational quality that can lead to economic prosperity. “We can’t run our universities like this if we truly want genuine development to take place,” Prof Osodeke stated, urging a reevaluation of how university councils are constituted.

ASUU knocks FG over appointment of new governing council boards

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Bauchi zone, on Tuesday, decried the appointment of governing boards across Federal Tertiary Institutions, saying that the Bola Tinubu-led administration should instead reinstate the earlier dissolved members. The zone, comprising executives from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State University Gadau, Federal University Kashere, Gombe State University, Plateau State University, and the University of Jos, made these disclosures after its meeting in Gombe State. Speaking, Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Namo Aku, noted that the union didn’t demand fresh appointments for boards, adding that the Tinubu should reinstate the previously sacked members. Aku disclosed that the vacuum caused by the sack of governing council boards, made Vice Chancellors act as emperors and empresses. He said, “NEC-in-session expressed utter dismay over the continued erosion of autonomy of public universities, which is a clear violation of the Universities Miscellaneous ACT 1993 (as amended in 2012). The illegal dissolution of the Governing Councils by the President Tinubu-led Government, as well as some state governments, is tantamount to a coup against the public University System. “This unwholesome act has emboldened some Vice-chancellors to govern universities as emperors/emperesses with the introduction of obnoxious policies that are antithetical to the university culture. Some university administrators now place adverts for the appointment of vice-chancellors without authorisation from the Governing Councils. “Some vice-chancellors, in collaboration with Federal and State Ministries of Education, engage in illegal recruitment and discipline of staff as well as the management of university finances without regard for transparency and accountability. “ASUU condemns these acts of corruption and calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria as well as affected State Governments to respect the laws establishing the universities, by re-instating Governing Councils whose terms have not lapsed and to re-constitute those whose terms have lapsed.” While urging for reconsideration of Nimi Briggs’ committee report following present economic realities, Aku added, “In 2009, the Federal and State Governments signed a comprehensive agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The Agreement provided for a new salary package for academic staff and improved working conditions and funding of universities.” Aku added, “The Agreement also reaffirmed the autonomy of the universities as contained in the previous agreements. It was agreed that the agreement would be reviewed every three years. Since 2012, the Union has prevailed on Federal and State Governments to return to the negotiation table to no avail. “After a series of agitations and strike actions, the re-negotiation of the 2009 Agreement began in 2017, first with Dr. Wale Babalakin as Chairman of the Re-negotiation Committee and later Emeritus Prof. Munzali Jibril and the late Emeritus Prof. Nimi Briggs. A draft Agreement was reached with the late Prof. Briggs-led Committee in 2021. Alas, agents of the Buhari-led Government refused to sign the draft Agreement for implementation.” Also, Immediate Past Coordinator, Lawan Abubakar said reconstitution of boards wasn’t the demand of the union, saying, “Government should do the needful because the union will meet at the end of timeframe given at the National Executive Council meeting. It’s for the government to do what is needed. The constitution of the governing council that the government has just done was not initially part of our request. We asked for reinstatement because it was unlawful for the government to dissolve the universities governing councils.” Also speaking, Comrade Alphonsus Alubo, SAN, called for the restoration of council boards, saying, “Nigerians appear to welcome the constitution of councils but for us we ask for reinstatement of the councils, the restoration of cou

BREAKING: SSANU, NASU Declare 7 Days Warning Strike

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) have declared a 7-day warning strike to demand the payment of four months of withheld salaries of their members, after the 2022 nationwide strike. The decision was part of the resolution of the joint action committee of the two unions, after a meeting which held in Akure at the weekend. Recall that President Bola Tinubu had directed that workers in the public universities that embarked on a prolonged strike in 2022 but were not paid salaries within the period of the strike by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari should be paid for four months. While the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation has paid the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, the four months as directed by the President, the three unions of non teaching staff are yet to be paid.  

FG commences payment of ASUU’s withheld salaries

The Federal Government has commenced the payment of the withheld salaries of academics under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.  Multiple sources in the academic sector confirmed the development to our correspondent in Abuja on Monday. The chairperson, ASUU at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Prof. Gbolahan Bolarin, who confirmed the development on the record, said, “Yes, it is true. Payment has started rolling in.” President Bola Tinubu Tinubu had in October 2023 approved the release of four of the eight months’ ASUU withheld salaries of the workers. The salaries were withheld when the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari invoked a ‘No Work, No Pay policy’ against some university-based unions that embarked on a strike that lasted eight months in 2022. The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, recently said the government has increased the university workers’ salaries by 35 per cent. The minister also said the government has granted autonomy to the universities by removing them from the Integrated Payment and Payroll Information System . He added that the universities no longer need a waiver to recruit and fill their vacancies. These resolutions were reached through informal consultations with the unions based in the tertiary institutions, Mamman said.

ASUU Donates Food Items To 320 IDPs In Katsina

The Academic Staff of Universities Union (ASUU) has donated food items to about 320 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Katsina State on Sunday. Dr Lawalli Alkali, the association’s national resource person represented its National President, Prof. Victor Emmanuel, at the distribution of the relief materials. He said the gesture was not the first of its kind by the association as it had been a long-standing programme. He said also that the foodstuffs included rice, cooking oil, spaghetti, noodles and seasoning cubes. “ASUU has always identified with vulnerable groups and the most seriously vulnerable Nigerians like the Internally Displaced Persons IDPs. “ASUU regards IDPs as manifestation of a serious problem. “When you see IDPs across the country, it shows that we still have a lot to do on security matters,’’ he said. Alkali appealed to President Bola Tinubu to adopt necessary measures to tackle security challenges in the country to enable IDPs to return to their homes. According to him, ASUU has been monitoring events in Katsina State, and appreciates the commitment of Gov. Dikko Radda on security issues. “We pray that he remains focused to do the needful to ensure that IDPs returned to their homes. And resume their farming and other business activities,’’ he said. Some of the IDPs, mostly women, expressed appreciation of ASUU’s gesture and appealed to the state government and wealthy individuals to also assist. Those who spoke said they were in need of serious assistance, adding that staying in uncompleted buildings was not their desire. They also called on governments at all levels to redouble efforts at tackling security challenges in their communities. 

ASUU Decries Dissolution Of Governing Council In Dangote Varsity

The Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, has decried the dissolution of the institution’s governing council by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State. This is contained in a statement issued by the chapter’s Chairperson, Dr. Aliyu Ahmad and Secretary, Dr. Mudassir Nasir, in Kano on Wednesday, The union described as “inappropriate,” the dissolution of the council which was effected by the Governor Yusuf, on May 29. The union said it was dismayed over the continuous running of the institution, formerly known as Kano State University of Science and Technology, without a governing council, as a result of the dissolution. It said the development was in breach and disregard of the provisions of the Kano State University of Science and Technology (Amendment) Law of 2017. The union therefore called on the governor to, as a matter of urgency reconstitute the council “in order to avoid paralysing the university system.” It also urged the state government to settle the outstanding entitlements of staff of the university.

ASUU bemoans delay in releasing 8-month salaries, other issues

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised concerns regarding the prolonged withholding of university academics’ salaries for nearly eight months due to the fallout from the 2022 strike action. The President of ASUU, Emmanuel Osodeke, highlighted this issue in a statement. The matter was discussed during the union’s National Executive Council meeting held at the University of Maiduguri, Borno State, from August 19th to August 20th, 2023. Osodeke noted that this challenge is just one among several plaguing the Nigerian University System (NUS), as deliberated during the meeting. He emphasized that the application of the ‘No-Work-No-Pay’ policy to academics fails to consider that only the teaching aspect of their work was suspended during the strike action. Moreover, he highlighted the diligent efforts made by academics to make up for lost time under extremely challenging economic conditions, following the suspension of the strike through interventions by key figures including Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who is now Chief of Staff to the President and Visitor to Federal Universities. The statement acknowledged the resilience of Nigerian academics, commending their unwavering determination and courage in enduring economic, social, and emotional hardships due to the non-payment of their salaries. ASUU attributed past strike actions to successive governments’ failure to honour agreements and memoranda established through the collective bargaining principle endorsed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and adopted in Nigeria’s labour laws. ASUU called upon the government led by President Bola Tinubu to expedite the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU/FGN Agreement based on the recommendations of the Professor Nimi Briggs Committee. This move is essential to restore the credibility of the NUS. The union recognized ongoing efforts to secure the release of the withheld salaries and urged national leadership, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), to actively pursue this matter. ASUU underlined the significance of releasing the withheld salaries in boosting the morale of Nigerian university educators. The statement also lamented the accumulation of promotion arrears owed to members due to disruptions stemming from the enrollment of academics in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). Despite numerous attempts by the union and university administrations, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) has yet to address this issue. Consequently, ASUU appealed to the OAGF to promptly resolve the backlog of promotion arrears, considering the impact on industrial harmony and peace. The union’s concerns highlight the challenges faced by academics in Nigeria and the urgent need for comprehensive resolutions to safeguard their welfare and the integrity of the education system. The statement further read, “NEC was disturbed by reports of massive employment racketeering perpetuated by operators of the discredited IPPIS, including scandalous revelations at the recent sittings of House of Representatives Probe Panel on IPPIS. “NEC observed that the unsavoury trend has eroded university employment tradition in violation of the provisions of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2003, and Guidelines for Appointments and Promotions of individual universities. ASUU rejects all illegal appointments sponsored by the IPPIS and its agents in Nigerian public universities. “NEC observed with dismay the Government’s moves to further erode the autonomy of universities as contained in the Universities Miscellaneous Provisions Act in respect of the dissolution of Councils. ASUU had cause to protest to the immediate past Federal administration over the same matter in 2015, and the decision was accordingly reversed. “Dissolution of Governing Councils of federal and state universities before they serve their full terms does not only violate extant laws on university autonomy, but it also adversely impacts operations of the universities. NEC therefore calls for the reversal of the recent dissolution of councils of federal universities to ensure their smooth operations and stability. “NEC reviewed the strenuous efforts of the National Universities Commission (NUC) to impose the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standard (CCMAS) on Nigerian universities, despite well-founded criticisms and rejection by members of university senates and academic associations. NEC subsequently directed the leadership of ASUU to pursue the Union’s rejection of CCMAS to its logical conclusion. “Painfully, NEC reviewed reports of mass exit of experienced academics and professionals from Nigeria’s public universities owing to disabling working and living conditions. NEC submits that a salary regime that places the professor- at-bar on four hundred and sixteen thousand Naira (N416,000.00) or less (no thanks to amputation by IPPIS) for more than ten years is disconcerting, debilitating and dehumanizing for scholars. “NEC, therefore, advises governments at the federal and state levels to urgently arrest the growing ‘Japa’ syndrome on university campuses to reposition Nigerian universities for competitiveness in the global knowledge economy. “NEC noted with dismay the continued onslaughts on ASUU members at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof (Mrs.) Nnenna N. Oti, and her agents over the questionable appointment of Dr. Isa Ibrahim Ali Pantami as a Professor at the University. “NEC reaffirms its earlier position that the promotion of Dr. Isa Ibrahim Ali Pantami as a Professor in FUTO while serving as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was a breach of the University’s Appointments and Promotions Guidelines. “NEC further reaffirms its recognition of the ASUU-FUTO Executive Committee (EXCO) led by Comrade Chinedu Ihejirika, currently being subjected to unwarranted attack and persecution in the University. NEC subsequently resolves that ASUU would hold the FUTO Vice-Chancellor, Prof. (Mrs.) Nnenna Oti, liable should any harm come the way of Comrade Ihejirika and other committed members of our Union in FUTO as well as those of their respective families. “NEC was grieved by the deepening crisis of governance occasioned by the mindless acceptance and crude implementation of neo-liberal socio-economic policies of the international money lenders by successive governments since the birth of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. NEC sadly noted the recent anti-people, draconian policies of the government that have brought millions of Nigerians to their knees and crippled businesses. “We note that the expectation of democratic dividends which heralded civilian rule in 1999 has almost evaporated, as more Nigerians are daily gasping for breath under the suffocating grips of