FG inaugurates committee to renegotiate 2009 ASUU agreement

By our reporter| The federal government has inaugurated a seven-person committee tasked with the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement reached with the Academic Student Union of Universities (ASUU).

The committee, chaired by Pro-Chancellor, Alex Ekweme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Emeritus Professor Nimi Briggs was inaugurated on Monday.

Other members are Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Wukari, Arc. 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.

It has three months to conclude the renegotiation with ASUU currently on a one-month warning strike over improved welfare, revitalisation of public universities, and academic autonomy among other demands.

Terms of reference
The Committee, which is expected to review the draft proposed FGN/ASUU Agreement, has the following Terms of Reference:

a. Liaise and consult with relevant stakeholders to finalise the position of the Federal Government to the issues in the draft proposed FGN/ASUU Renegotiated Agreement;

b. Renegotiate in realistic and workable terms the 2009 Agreements with other University-Based Unions;

c. Negotiate and recommend any other issue the Committee deems relevant to reposition the NUS for global competitiveness; and

d. Submit proposed draft agreements within three (3) months from the date of inauguration.

One of the points of negotiation will be the non-payment of university revitalisation funds, which amounts to about N1.1 trillion.

The agreement was reportedly struck in 2009.

But Ngige has maintained that the federal government doesn’t have the money to pay such an amount, citing low oil prices during the Muhammadu Buhari administration.