'Take heed of our demands'- Union warns FG

olamide oni

August 17, 2016 7:42 AM

ASUU has sent a warning to the Federal Government to listen to its demands or else harm will come to Nigeria’s education sector.

ASUU logo

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has sent a warning to the Federal Government to listen to its demands or else harm will come to Nigeria’s education sector.

National President of the association, Comrade Biodun Ogunyemi, who said this in Lagos on August 15, said that turning a blind eye to the plight of the body was a threat to the country’s development, particularly the university system.

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Some of the issues raised by the body include non-implementation of the 2009 ASUU/FGN agreement; non- payment of earned academic allowances, implementation of NEEDS Assessment Report; non-registration of Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company; Renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement; shortfalls in personnel emoluments and continued shenanigans at the University of Ilorin.

Others are poor funding and proliferation of state universities; release of white papers on special visitation to eight universities; appointment of Prof. Ishaq Oloyede as Registrar of the ; state of the economy; insecurity, among others.

Ogunyemi also stated that it has become imperative for the body to demand government’s urgent intervention in all the affected areas saying it is the patriotic duty of ASUU to champion the course.

He said, “In 2009, the government signed an agreement with our union over funding of universities; university autonomy, conditions of service and other miscellaneous issues confronting the Nigerian University system. The agreement, which was signed in October 2009, is binding on both parties.

“In an effort to cause the Federal Government to fully implement the agreement, the union embarked on strike in 2012 and 2013, which led to the signing of Memorandum of Understanding for effective implementation of the agreement. To date, several aspects of the agreement are yet to be implemented.

“After the NEC meeting, we came to the embarrassing conclusion that the Federal Government has failed to appreciate the enormity of the problems posed by its lack of action on the different issues bothering the plight of the association.”

olamide oni