FG/ASUU agreement: Committee Given 3 Months To Renegotiate Workable Terms
The Federal Government on Monday, inaugurated a seven-person committee to renegotiate the 2009 agreement reached with the Academic Student Union of Universities (ASUU).
Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, while inaugurating the team, urged the committee to conduct the all-important assignment with the seriousness and the urgency it deserves within three months, considering the ongoing industrial action by one of the unions.
The re-negotiation of the 2009 agreements between the Federal Government and the University-based staff unions (ASUU, SSANU, NAAT & NASU) commenced on Monday, 13th February 2017.
However, due to a number of unforeseen circumstances, including but not limited to the COVID-19 pandemic, the exercise has dragged on till now.
The minister said the committee, which is expected to review the draft proposed FGN/ASUU Agreement, is to liaise and consult with relevant stakeholders to finalise the position of the Federal Government on the issues.
It is also to renegotiate in realistic and workable terms, the 2009 agreements with other university-based unions while also negotiating and recommending any other issue the committee deems relevant to reposition Nigerian universities for global competitiveness and submit proposed draft agreements within three months from the date of inauguration.
The committee is chaired by Pro-Chancellor, Alex Ekweme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Emeritus Professor Nimi Briggs.
Other members are Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Wukari, Lawrence Patrick Ngbale, who represents North East; Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Birnin Kebbi, Prof. Funmi Togunu-Bickersteth, representing South West and Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Lokoja, Senator Chris Adighije, representing South East.
Also on the team are Pro-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Prof. Olu Obafemi from North-Central; Pro-Chancellor, Kano State University of Science & Technology, Prof. Zubairu Iliyasu, representing North West; and Pro-Chancellor, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Mathew Seiyefa from South-South.
