CHIDIMMA UCHEGBU
Representatives of the Federal Government led by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, will meet on Monday with the officials of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other relevant stakeholders to iron out issues of interest to all parties. This follows a notice of strike served on the government by the union.
Few days ago, ASUU issued a 21-day notice of strike to the Federal Government over several unresolved issues, notably, the emergency revitalisation fund of public universities; payment of outstanding earned academic allowances; and release of withheld salaries, promotion arrears, and third-party deductions of its members.
The other issues includes the stoppage of illegal recruitments; proliferation of public universities/abuse of universities’ laws, regulations and processes; and removal of universities from the treasury single account and new IPPIS to herald the autonomy of universities.
Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, told journalists at a press conference to mark one year in Abuja, on Friday that letters of invitation have been sent to the ASUU officials and several other organizations that would be relevant in the meeting.
He said: “Most the issues raised by ASUU are being attended to. For instance, the issue of exit from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) has since been resolved by the President. Bureaucracy is the reason for delay in the implementation of that directive. But by the time we meet on Monday, some of these issues would be discussed and resolved.”
Prof. Mamman insisted that President Bola Tinubu, is committed to academic stability in the schools, and would not hold back any support that would ensure that the era of academic disruption in the tertiary institutions are over.
He added: “Most of the demands ASUU started in 1981. And virtually all government has had its fair share of ASUU strike. But the President made a commitment during the campaign that permanent solution would be provided this time, and he has shown that in his steps and actions.”
He also appealed to ASUU to be considerate in their actions and open-minded in their approach to the negotiation table so that interest of all parties would be properly represented.
