In a bid to avert the impending strike in the nation’s university system, the Federal Government has inaugurated a committee to renegotiate the 2009 agreements signed with University Based Unions.
The minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman who inaugurated the committee on Tuesday, stated that the committee is expected to produce realistic and workable agreements that would holistically tackle the challenges confronting the university system.
The minister recalled that the re-negotiation of the 2009 agreements between the Federal Government and the University based staff Unions commenced on Monday, February 13, 2017.
He noted that the re-negotiation had lingered for this long due to a number of unforeseen circumstances.
“However, it is important to state that the immediate past leadership of the Renegotiation Committee under Professor Nimi Briggs, produced a draft report with significant areas covered, and agreed that that would be a springboard to hinge on going forward to conclude the exercise.
“There is no gain saying that the earnest desire of every stakeholder in the Nigerian University System (NUS) and, indeed, at large, is to conclude this re-negotiation exercise within the shortest possible period.
“Therefore, I wish to especially appeal to this reconstituted Committee to double its effort to conclude the assignment and produce a realistic and workable Agreements that would holistically tackle the challenges confronting the NUS and reposition it to effectively play its very important role in national development,” he said.
While speaking on the Committee’s terms of reference, the minister stated that It is expected to review the draft proposed Agreements with the various University based Unions.
He added that the committee will also, “Liaise and consult with relevant stakeholders to guide the position of the Federal Government on the issues in the draft proposed FGN/University based Unions Renegotiated Agreements;
“Renegotiate in realistic and workable terms the 2009 Agreement with other University-based Unions;
“Negotiate and recommend any other issue the Committee deems relevant to reposition the NUS for global competitiveness.”
Mamman urged the committee to submit proposed draft agreements within three months from the date of inauguration.
He assured the committee of the Federal Government’s support and cooperation in the course of its assignment.
“In addition, the Committee is to be further guided by the Ag. Executive Secretary, NUC going forward on matters of the renegotiation exercise,” he said.
The 53-member committee is chaired by the Pro-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Dr. Mahmud Yayale Ahmed.
The committee also had as its member leaders of the university based unions including Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) President, Ibeji Nwokoma, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) President, Comrade Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) President, Dr. Makolo Hassan.
In 2020, Mallam Adamu Adamu, the then-Minister of Education, inaugurated a team to renegotiate the 2009 agreements between the Federal Government, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and other university-based unions.
Unfortunately, despite this effort, the team was unable to prevent a strike from occurring in the university system.
Again, FG Sets Up Panel To Renegotiate 2009 Agreement With Varsity Unions is first published on The Whistler Newspaper