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Tag: Strike

  • Strike: FG Retracts Order Directing VCs to Reopen Varsities For Academic Programmes

    Strike: FG Retracts Order Directing VCs to Reopen Varsities For Academic Programmes

    By Marcus Ikechukwu

    The Federal Government has back tracked on its earlier directive to Vice Chancellors to reopen public universities for academic programmes.

    It was however learnt from sources within the academic system, that the decision by the Federal Government to withdraw the earlier circular issued on Monday, morning to the VCs, may not be unconnected with its re-assessment of the directive, especially with the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    There are indications that the NUC may have weighed the implications and may have come to the conclusion that the directive might worsen the already dire situation.

    The earlier circular which emanated from the National Universities Commission NUC had directed Vice Chancellors to open universities under their purview for academic activities to resume.

    The directive comes just as the Executives of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU had filed an appeal challenging the earlier court verdict of the National Industrial Court NIC which had directed ASUU to go back to work.

    The earlier circular specifically by the Commission specifically tasked the university managements to allow students continue academic exercises.

    In the letter signed by NUC’s Director, Finance and Accounts,Mr Sam Onazi, on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Professor Abubakar Rasheed on Monday, was addressed to all vice-chancellors; Pro-Chancellors and chairmen of governing councils of federal universities.

    “Ensure that ASUU members immediately resume/commence lectures; Restore the daily activities and routines of the various University campuses”, the letter partly reads.

    But in another letter retracting the directive, Mr Sam Onazi, on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, said the initial circular stands withdrawn and that all Pro-Chancellors, VCs of Federal Universities are to wait for further developments or information which will be communicated to them in due course.

    The Circular reads: Re: Forwarding of Court Judgement and Enforcement of Order by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in suit no: NICN/Abj/270/2022.

    Withdrawal of Circular Ref: NUC/ES/138/Vol.64/136. I have been directed to withdraw the National Universities Commission circular Ref: NUC/ES/138/Vol.64/135 and dated 23rd September 2022 on the above subject. Consequently, the said circular stands withdrawn.

    All pro-chancellors and chairmen of governing councils as well as vice chancellors of Federal Universities are to please note. Further developments and information will be communicated to all relevant stakeholders.

    Recall that ASUU commenced an indefinite strike since February 14, 2022 over grievances relating to funding for universities, arrears of earned allowances to its members and discrepancies in the implementationof the Integrated Personnel Payrolls and Information System IPPIS , among other issues.

    Why both contending parties have been enmeshed in the crisis, the National Industrial Court ordered ASUU to return back to classes, to which the latter has already filed an appeal challenging the verdict.

  • Strike: ASUU Appeal To Overturn Industrial Court’s Ruling On Resumption

    Strike: ASUU Appeal To Overturn Industrial Court’s Ruling On Resumption

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has filed an appeal to challenge a court ruling which directed the union to call off its nationwide strike.

    The appeal, filed through its legal team led by Femi Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria, is premised on 14 grounds.

    The union is, among other things, seeking the leave of the appellate court to file the appeal pursuant to section 243 of the constitution that requires a leave of court to appeal the judgment or ruling of the national industrial court (NIC).

    ASUU is also seeking a stay of execution of the orders of the court, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.

    ASUU has been on strike since February 14 to press home the demand for improved funding for universities, a review of salaries for lecturers, among other issues.

    Several meetings between ASUU and the federal government have ended in deadlock.

    Consequently, the federal government went to the national industrial court to challenge the strike.

    Delivering a ruling on Wednesday, Polycarp Hamman, the judge, granted the federal government’s application for an interlocutory injunction to restrain ASUU from continuing with the strike.

    The judge also ordered members of the union to resume work pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

    He held that the strike is detrimental to public university students who cannot afford to attend private tertiary institutions.

  • Court Orders ASUU To Call Off Strike Immediately

    Court Orders ASUU To Call Off Strike Immediately

    The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Abuja has ordered the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to immediately suspend the ongoing industrial action.

    Justice Polycarp Hamman on Wednesday held that the strike was a breach of the Section 18(1)(2) of the Trade Disputes Act, which prohibits their action.

    He said the use of “shall” in the Act connotes mandatory provision not to embark on the strike pending the determination of the main suit before the court.

    The judge noted that the strike has caused irreparable damage to the careers of many students in Nigeria.

    Justice Hamman referred the case to the president of the court for reassignment.

  • Strike: FG yet to Resolve Issues – ASUU tells Minister

    Strike: FG yet to Resolve Issues – ASUU tells Minister

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Bayero University, Kano, BUK branch has on Tuesday slammed the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu over claims that the Federal Government has resolved the contentious issues except the payment of the six month withheld salaries.

    The union who described the Minister’s claim as misleading maintained that none of the contending issues have been addressed.

    In a statement signed by the Union’s Chairperson, Haruna Musa and Secretary, Kabiru Haruna Isa, they accused the Minister of diverting attention of Nigerians from the government’s failure to resolve the contentious issues to casting blames on the union over the prolonged strike action on grounds of withheld salaries.

    According to the union, “More worrisomely, the Minister of Education, has resorted to blatant disinformation and cheap blackmail in order to deflect attention away from the Federal Government’s failure to resolve the contentious issues that led to the current strike action.

    “In his media briefing held on 18th August, 2022, the Minister mischievously misinformed nigerians that all contentious issues have been resolved, except the payment of the six month withheld salaries.

    “We want to make it unequivocally clear that contrary to the Minister’s claim, none of the contending issues has been addressed by the FG. The claim was a play to reduce our struggle to save nigerian university system to the issue of withheld salaries.

    “ASUU-BUK vehemently condemns the FG’s mishandling of the protracted industrial dispute that has kept nigerian universities shut since February 14th. As the strike enters the 7th month, the FG has continued to demonstrate insincerity and lack of commitment towards resolving the impasse.

    “Therefore, the FG should be solely held responsible for unnecessarily prolonging the avoidable strike action,” the union however stated.

  • Strike to Continue As ASUU-FG Meeting Ends in Disagreement

    Strike to Continue As ASUU-FG Meeting Ends in Disagreement

    The meeting between the federal government and the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), on Tuesday ended without an agreement.

    As a result of this, the six-month old strike embarked on by public university lecturers is set to continue.

    The lecturers met with the Professor Nimi Briggs Committee at the National University Commission (NUC) in Abuja with high hopes of resolving the impasse.

    A senior member of ASUU told Channels Television that members of the Briggs renegotiation committee didn’t come with any new offer on the table.

    According to him, the committee pleaded with the lecturers to suspend the ongoing strike, with promises that their concerns will be included in the 2023 budget.

    The meeting started at about 12pm and lasted for about three hours.

    ASUU has been on strike since February 14.

  • Buhari ‘Should Urgently’ Approve N200bn For ASUU To End Strike – Falana

    Buhari ‘Should Urgently’ Approve N200bn For ASUU To End Strike – Falana

    Human rights activist and senior lawyer, Femi Falana, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to submit a supplementary budget for the appropriation of the sum of N200 billion required to revamp federal universities across the country.

    According to Mr Falana, this will go a long way in ending the months-long strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities that has paralysed public universities since February.

    Mr Falana said President Buhari’s recent lament over the prolonged strike was unnecessary.

    He also faulted the Federal Government’s claim that it does not have the funds to meet ASUU’s demands, noting that the government has allocated trillions to address issues such as fuel subsidy and agriculture policy.

    ASUU embarked on a four-week warning strike on February 14.

    On March 14, the union extended the industrial action by another two months to allow the government meet all of its demands. A 12-week extension was announced on May 9.

    Since May 9, the union has remained on strike, vowing to persist until its demands are met.

    The academics are seeking improved welfare, revitalisation of public universities and academic autonomy among other demands.

    One bone of contention for the academics is the non-payment of university revitalisation funds, which amounts to about N1.1 trillion.

    But the Federal Government has said it doesn’t have the money to pay such an amount, citing low oil prices during the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    The agreement was reportedly struck in 2009.

    Another is the issue of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

    The academics have proposed an alternative payroll system, the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).

  • Strike: Enough is Enough, Buhari Goes Tough On ASUU

    Strike: Enough is Enough, Buhari Goes Tough On ASUU

    President Muhammadu Buhari Monday in Daura, Katsina State revisited the issue of the prolonged strike which has left students at home for months, telling leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that enough is enough.

    The president called on ASUU to reconsider their position on the continued strike, expressing worry that the hiatus will have generational consequences on families, the educational system and future development of the country.

    The President, who stated this when he received some governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), legislators and political leaders at his residence, said the strike had already taken a toll on the psychology of parents, students and other stakeholders, throwing up many moral issues that already beg for
    attention.

    President Buhari noted that the future of the country rests on the quality of educational institutions and education, while assuring that the government understands their position, and negotiations should continue, with students in lecture halls.

    “We hope that ASUU will sympathise with the people on the prolonged strike. Truly, enough is enough for keeping students at home. Don’t hurt the next generation for goodness sake,” he said.

    The president called on all well meaning Nigerians, particularly those close to the leaders and members of the association, to intervene in persuading the lecturers to reconsider their position, and the ripple effect on an entire generation and the nation.

    President Buhari said students from Nigerian universities will be faced with the challenge of competing with others in a highly connected and technology-driven work space, and keeping them at home only deprives them of time, skill and opportunities to be relevant on the global stage.

    “Colonial type education was geared towards producing workers in government. Those jobs are no longer there. Our young people should get education to prepare them for self-employment. Now education is for the sake of education.

    “Through technology we are much more efficient. We should encourage our children to get education, not only to look for government jobs,” he added.

    President Buhari said resources should be channeled more into building infrastructure and operations of the health and educational sector, not to expand the bureaucracy to create job opportunities.

    “By this time next year, I would have made the most out of the two terms, and the remaining months I will do my best,” the President noted.

    President Buhari urged those in political positions and places of privilege to be mindful in helping the many Nigerians that were looking for opportunities.

    “If you are greedy, you won’t look around to see what is happening with those who are less endowed,’’ he said.

    The President told the governors and political leaders that he had not been to his house in Daura for close to a year due to the demands of office.

    “The observation that I abandoned my base was made by the Emir of Daura, Dr Faruk Umar Faruk, at the eid prayer ground. He held the microphone and told everyone that the last time I was in Daura was during the Eid-el-Kabir of 2021,” he added.

    Buhari said he would retire to Daura, not Kaduna, where he had a better house.

    “In ten to eleven months time, I will come here. I have a better house in Kaduna, but it is too close to Abuja,’’ he said.

    The president explained that the schedule of work was much, saying he recently had to sympathise with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, who had to be away most of the time from his family.

    Buhari urged the APC stalwarts to keep working for the good of the people and the country, noting that “ We are a lucky people, and we need to reflect more on where we are coming from.”

    He said relative to the resources available, and compared to the last administration, the government had done well in many areas, particularly in infrastructure.

    “I wish the person who is coming after me the very best,” he said.

    On security, the President said the North West had posed more challenges, and some success had been recorded in other regions, North East and South South.

    The president advised some indigenes in the South South to stop hurting national assets, which also affect their livelihood.

    “I am eager to go. I can tell you it has been tough. I am grateful to God that people appreciate the personal sacrifices we have been making,” he added.

    In his remarks at the meeting, the Chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, thanked the President for his leadership roles in improving the economy of the nation and the many successes recorded at the APC, which include two conventions to produce the party leadership and the presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    “We will work hard to ensure the success of our party. We have reasons to work very hard,” he added.

    Bagudu, who is the Governor of Kebbi State, said the favorable seasons supported the vision of ensuring food production and making agriculture a priority, with clear results in rice pyramids in various states.

    “In spite of the attacks by the renegades, our country remains self-sufficient in food production. We have seen investments that were not there before you came into power.

    “Not less than 20 states now have agriculture process zones. We have rice pyramid in Ekiti, Gombe and Niger, while maize pyramids were revived in Katsina and Kano states,” he said.

    He said more than 54 rice meals were commissioned in various states, and 57 fertiliser plants were revived, or built afresh.

    “All these were achieved because of your commitment and patriotism,” the governor told the President.

    Bagudu also appreciated the President for providing ease of access to governors and political leaders, noting that the opening of the National Economic Council for more fluid exchange of ideas greatly helped in improving the economy.

  • Strike: FG, ASUU Urged to Return to Negotiation Table

    Strike: FG, ASUU Urged to Return to Negotiation Table

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    Worried over the prolong strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Benue State, Mr Ode Ochelle has Implored the Federal Government and the Leadership of the union to return to the negotiation table to enable the students return back to classes.

    ASUU has embarked on strike to Press home for the Implementation of the agreement it had entered into with the Federal Government.

    The Permanent Secretary who made this call while fielding questions from Journalists in Makurdi on the extension of the industrial action by the union admonished both parties to sheathe their swards and dialogue over the issue towards finding lasting solution.

    His words: ” It is upon this basis that I want to call on both parties to sheathe their swards and come back to a round table discusion, give up certain things that they can possibly give up, and I know that these are certain things that can be given up from both parties so they will reach an agreement and call the students back to school.”

    Continuing Ochelle noted that ” I think the issue has been unfulfilled promises and agreements that have been reached and that have been breached. If it is true that these agreements are reached, I believe with all honesty that the Federal Government should honour the agreement, and if for any good reason they are not able to honour it, ASUU is an organization of human beings, they are Nigerians.

    If they have good reasons like I said for not honouring whatever agreement that have been reached, I believe they should have called ASUU to a round table and said for this reasons understand with us, we are not able to reach this agreement that we had reached and I have the feeling that if that happens, there will be understanding because they are Nigerians.”

    The Permanent Secretary pointed out that the negative effect of this prolong strike is having to have these children at home and we all know that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop, describing it as a disservice to the nation.

    ” I want to urge all parties to this agreement to think about the future of our children who are in these schools who are at home, and then the parents of these children what they are passing through. I know that ASUU has the right to talk about their welfare, but even as it is their right for them to do so, I would advise them to do it with a responsibility in the sense that they too are parents”.

    He maintained that the effect of the strike is not only on the students, stressing that economically it has affected those whose lives are dependent on doing business around school campuses.

    “All these people have been put out of business and for so long out of livelihood, they could join in the crime world because survival is the first thing. Iam not in any way saying that criminal activities are right or justifying it, but certain persons can be pushed to the wall and no one can tell how far they can go in order to survive.

    So for this reason and many other reasons , I wish that there should be an understanding among the parties and then call off the strike for the good of all of us.

  • ASUU Strike: Nigerian Students Are Ready To Be Shot To End Strike – NANS President

    ASUU Strike: Nigerian Students Are Ready To Be Shot To End Strike – NANS President

    The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Sunday Asefon on Thursday suggested that the union is prepared to hit the streets to protest the strike embarked by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

    Mr Asefon made the comment while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

    According to Mr Asefon, the government appears not to be interested in ending the strike as focus shifts to elections in 2023.

    He referenced the protests in Benin-city embarked by some university students.

    “We are talking about education, we are talking about life,” he said. “Our life is no longer being discussed by the leaders, these leaders that we elected; but rather, their focus now is about election. This election that we are talking about is because of their parochial and selfish interest.

    “We are battle ready, the highest they can do is to shoot us,” he said. “If they shoot, they will ask their police to shoot us, if we die, the generation coming will know we died because of fighting for them. They would also know that they shot us because they are preparing for election. But we need to take action”

    Mr Asefon noted that the government should stop playing politics with the ASUU issue.

    “If you have an opportunity to meet the ASUU and federal government, federal government will tell you they inherited the problem from PDP, the ASUU will tell you this negotiation has been on since when Jonathan was there but what we believe as students is that government is continuous; they should be able to fine tune and find a solution to this matter,” he said.

    “We should not be at the receiving end every time and as such, they should stop using us to play politics.”

  • Strike: ASUU Cannot Dictate Payment Platform For Their Salaries – Nwajiuba

    Strike: ASUU Cannot Dictate Payment Platform For Their Salaries – Nwajiuba

    The Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, has said the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) cannot dictate to the Federal Government what platform to be used in paying their salaries.

    He stated this in Abuja while addressing journalists shortly after receiving his presidential Nomination Form of the All Progressives Congress (APC) purchased for him by the Project Nigeria Group.

    “It is impractical and incongruous to continuously expect that somebody who is paid a salary continues to dictate to the someone who pays him: ‘This is how you must pay me’. This is where this anomaly is,” the minister said.

    Mr Nwajiuba also appealed to the striking lecturers to return to the classroom as the Federal Government is working to address some of their concerns.

    “We have pleaded with ASUU that ‘If there any areas where your salaries fall short, kindly address them within the ambit of IPPIS because that’s what the government has now,’” the presidential hopeful explained.

    According to him, the strike embarked upon by ASUU was uncalled for, and expressed worry over the impact of the union’s action on the education of Nigerian students.

    “Why they have chosen to go on strike over this (IPPIS) is what you and I can explain. There is nothing that ASUU wants that we have not agreed to. We would like them to go back to classes so that students can go back to class,” Nwajiuba added.

    “As the nation earns, we pay them. As the nation makes money, they would get money. What we don’t want is for the children to miss the opportunity of their own time because there is a timeframe within which children must grow. The child cannot wait. It is important that ASUU returns to class.”

    The minister’s comment adds to the continued debates over the payment systems for lecturers in public universities across the country. While the union says its University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) should be used for payment, the Federal Government maintains that the payment system has not met its technical requirements.

    But ASUU, which down tools over two months ago, believes the government is paying lip service to the lecturers’ agitation.

    According to the union’s president, Emmanuel Osodeke, the government’s budgeting of N4trn for subsidy payment is an indication that it is not ready to resolve the crisis.

    “You can raise N4 trillion for fuel subsidy in a year, but you cannot raise N200 billion to fund your education because you don’t have money; it is a priority,” he told Channels Television when he featured on Sunrise Daily last week.

    “You can spend N228 billion to feed children in primary and secondary schools, but you cannot raise N200 billion to fund your universities; it is an issue of priority, that is the problem.”

    ASUU, among others, is fighting for increased funding for public schools as well as the usage of UTAS to pay the lecturers’ salaries.