The ongoing strike by the Academic
Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)
may likely be called off as a result of
the recent breakthrough in
negotiation with the Federal
Government on some outstanding
issues.
This is coming as the Secretary to
Government of the Federation (SGF),
Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim yesterday in
Abuja inaugurated the “Universities
Needs Implementation Committee”,
with Governor of Benue State,
Gabriel Suswam as its chairman.
Suswam while speaking to
journalists after the more than two
hours meeting with ASUU
representatives yesterday, disclosed
that the two parties have resolved
and agreed on all outstanding issues
except two, which were the pending
payment of allowances and
upgrading of universities physical
infrastructures.
He said that the two outstanding
issues would be addressed next
week with SGF handling the pending
incomes with ASUU on Monday,
while the upgrading of the university
infrastructures would be discussed
with his committee together with
other intervention agencies.
He clarified that while it was not in
his position to guarantee that the
strike would be called off next week,
but there was the likelihood of it, if
the two remaining issues were
resolved.
"It is not in my position to say when
the strike will be called off...If all the
issues are resolved, what is the
need of carrying on with the strike",
was his response when asked about
the possibility of calling of the strike
next week.
Suswam listed some of the major
issues agreed upon to include the
retirement age of the university
lecturers from 65 to 70 years;
setting of research centres;
establishment of pension
Administration, and governing
council (which has been done
already) amongst others.
"After so many hours of
deliberation, we agreed on major
issues except two of them, which
are on the pending upgrading of
physical infrastructures of the
universities and pending
allowances", he said.
He added that, "By Monday we will
talk about the pending allowances,
while on Thursday that of upgrading
of the university facilities will be
discussed with my committee
together with other intervention
agencies".
Speaking further he said: "The issue
of government intervention in the
universities...because if you look at
many universities there are
infrastructural deficit and that is why
we will also involve intervention
agencies, and foreign institutions".
"The other issues agreed upon are
the retirement age from 65 to 70
years, it has been resolved; setting
of research centres; establishment
of Pension Administration, and
Governing Council, which has been
done already.
Earlier, Anyim while inaugurating the
Needs Assessment Committee,
emphasised that it was set up in a
bid to put in place appropriate
requirements conducive for
academics in all tertiary institutions
in Nigeria.
He said that the major needs of all
Federal Universities were identified
by an assessment committee earlier
set up to "assess and prioritise the
needs of universities".
He said: "The report submitted by
the Needs assessment Committee
mandates the inaugurated
Committee to interface with all
agencies providing funding support
to the universities with the aim of
appropriately channelling support to
identified priorities.
"Stimulate private sector investment
into the public universities, monitor
progress of the projects
implementation and produce
quarterly report for submission to
the federal government and,
intervention in any other matter that
may be necessary to achieve the
purpose of the Needs Assessment".
This mandate stem from the
observations earlier carried out and
it was noted that various countries
fund tertiary institutions through
varying approaches, some through
budgetary allocations, non-
budgetary interventions or private
sector donations.
While noting that Nigeria was
involved in the tripod-like methods
of funding mentioned above, as
besides the Federal Government,
the central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria
National Petroleum Cooperation
(NNPC), Niger Delta Development
Commission (NDDC), Tertiary
Education Trust Fund (TETFund)
among others.
It would be recalled that the Federal
Government set up the Need
Assessment Committee to revitalise
the physical infrastructure in the
universities, with the aim of
enhancing the Internally Generated
Revenue (IGR) base of the
universities.
"With the expanded IGR, the
universities council will be enabled
to take care of staff earned-
allowances and administrative needs
of the universities on sustainable
basis", Anyim said.
Other members of the Committee
are the acting Executive Secretary of
TETFUND as the Vice Chairman, a
representative each of the Senate
and House of Representative
Committee on Education, the Office
of the SGF, Academic Staff Union of
Universities, Ministry of Finance, the
Ministers of Education and Labour
and productivity.
Also in the committee are
representatives of National
Universities Commission NUC,
SSANU, NAATS, CBN, NITDA, NCC,
NNPC, PTDF and a representative of
TETFund, who would serve as the
Secretary.
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