Strike: ASUU rejects FG’s offer
The striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has rejected offers made to it early this week by the Federal Government. Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige, had at a recent meeting with ASUU leadership disclosed that the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Finance had released N15.4 billion […]
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU
The striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has rejected offers made to it early this week by the Federal Government.
Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige, had at a recent meeting with ASUU leadership disclosed that the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Finance had released N15.4 billion to public universities.
On earned academic allowances, he said President Muhammadu Buhari approved N20 billion to offset arrears of the 2009 to 2012 verified earnings by university teachers.
But, ASUU president, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, said upon reviewing the offers made by the government, members of the union across various campuses and zones rejected it.
Ogunyemi, who described government’s offer on the outstanding revitalization fund of N1.1 trillion as token, said members are insisting that government should release at least a tranche of N220 billion spread over four quarters of 2019.
He added that on earned allowances, government’s proposal should not be lesser than the total amount released “the last time” out of the verified balance.
ASUU had embarked on indefinite strike on November 4, 2018, to demand improved funding of universities and implementation of previous agreements entered with the government.
One of the major issues that has been dragging the negotiations forth and back is the revitalisation of the universities.
As at Saturday, the government was yet to release the N1.1 trillion of the N1.3 trillion it agreed to provide for the exercise.
The 2013 MoU stipulated that public universities needed N1.3 trillion for a modest revitalisation. The fund was to be paid in tranches of N200billion in 2013, N220billion in 2014, N220billion in 2015, 220billion in 2016, N220billion in 2017 and N220billion in 2018.