THE ACADEMIC STAFF UNION OF UNIVERSITIES, JOINT ACTION COMMITTEE OF THE SENIOR STAFF ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES AND THE NON-ACADEMIC STAFF UNION OF EDUCATIONAL AND ASSOCIATED INSTITUTIONS HAVE SAID THE NIMI BRIGGS COMMITTEE IS IN NEGOTIATION WITH THE UNIONS.

ASUU’S NATIONAL PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL OSODEKE WHO TOLD NEWSMEN THIS, SAYS THE UNION HAS BEEN NEGOTIATING WITH THE BRIGGS COMMITTEE SINCE LAST WEEK OVER ITS DEMANDS.

ASUU COMMENCED ITS ONGOING STRIKE ON FEBRUARY 14, 2022 AFTER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FAILED TO MEET SOME OF ITS DEMANDS NAMELY; THE RELEASE OF REVITALISATION FUNDS FOR UNIVERSITIES, RENEGOTIATION OF THE 2009 FGN/ASUU AGREEMENT, RELEASE OF EARNED ALLOWANCES FOR UNIVERSITY LECTURERS, AND DEPLOYMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY SOLUTION PAYMENT PLATFORM.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD IN MARCH, 2022 INAUGURATED A SEVEN-MAN COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY THE PRO-CHANCELLOR OF ALEX EKWEME FEDERAL UNIVERSITY, NDUFU-ALIKE, NIMI BRIGGS.

THE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO REVIEW THE PROPOSED FGN/ASUU AGREEMENT, HAS IN ITS TERMS OF REFERENCE, TO LIAISE AND CONSULT WITH RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS TO FINALISE THE POSITION OF THE FG TO THE ISSUES IN THE DRAFT PROPOSED FGN/ASUU RENEGOTIATED AGREEMENT; RENEGOTIATE IN REALISTIC AND WORKABLE TERMS THE 2009 AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER UNIVERSITY-BASED UNIONS; AND NEGOTIATE AND RECOMMEND ANY OTHER ISSUE THE COMMITTEE DEEMS RELEVANT TO REPOSITION THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES COMMISSION FOR GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS.

OSODEKE SAYS IT IS HOPED THIS APPROACH/ NEGOTIATION WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM SO THAT BY NEXT WEEK, WE WILL BRIEF NIGERIANS.

SIMILARLY, SSANU NATIONAL PRESIDENT, IBRAHIM MOHAMMED, WHO CONFIRMED THE UNION HAD TWO MEETINGS WITH THE BRIGGS COMMITTEE, HAS ASKED TO GOVERNMENT TO FAST TRACK THE PROCESS AS MEMEBRS OF HIS UNIONS ARE READY TO GO BACK TO WORK AS SOON AS ALL THE ISSUES THEY RAISED ARE DISCUSSED AND AGREED UPON.”

SSANU’S STRIKE STARTED WITH A WARNING STRIKE OF TWO WEEKS WHICH COMMENCED ON MARCH THE 27^TH, 2022, WHILE THE EXTENSION OF ANOTHER TWO WEEKS COMMENCED ON SUNDAY APRIL 10, 2022. IT IS ONGOING, HAVING BEING REPORTED THAT IT HAS BEEN EXTENDED BY A MONTH.

SOME OF THE DEMANDS OF SSANU INCLUDE THE INCONSISTENT ISSUE OF THE INTEGRATED PAYROLL AND PERSONNEL INFORMATION SYSTEM, UNPAID EARNED ALLOWANCES, AND DELAY IN THE RENEGOTIATION OF FGN, NASU, SSANU AGREEMENTS, AND NON-PAYMENT OF MINIMUM WAGE ARREARS.

OTHERS INCLUDE NEGLECT AND POOR FUNDING OF STATE UNIVERSITIES, NON-PAYMENT OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS TO OUTGOING MEMBERS OF THE UNIONS, AND USURPATION OF THE HEADSHIP OF NON-TEACHING UNITS IN CLEAR VIOLATION OF CONDITIONS OF SERVICE AND ESTABLISHMENT PROCEDURES, AMONG OTHERS.