Again, FG sets up committee to renegotiate 2009 agreement with ASUU

In what could be described as policy inconsistency, the Nigerian Government has again inaugurated a committee to renegotiate the 2009 agreements it had with university-based unions.

The unions include the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions as well as the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).

Recall that in 2022, the Muhammadu Buhari administration inaugurated a seven-person committee chaired by Professor Nimi Briggs, tasked with the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

However, yesterday in Abuja, the Bola Tinubu administration inaugurated another committee chaired by a former Head of Service of the Federation (HoSF) Yayale Ahmed, to review the draft proposed agreements with the various university-based unions.

Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, who inaugurated the panel, said the move became necessary following the expiration of the time of the previous committee, and the need to keep discussion on, to avoid breakdown of understanding that could result in industrial disharmony.

The Minister said the committee, as part of its terms of reference, will 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.

He said: “The Committee is also expected to negotiate and recommend any other issue it deems relevant to reposition the Nigerian University System (NUS) for global competitiveness; and submit proposed draft agreements within three months from the date of inauguration.”

Prof. Mamman confirmed that the previous committees made significant progress, adding that some of their recommendations, which are being implemented, have helped to maintain industrial and academic peace in the Universities.

He said: “In the composition of the Committee, we have the Chairman (Alhaji Yayale Ahmed) and members of this Committee, who are exceptionally experienced both in University and other matters. There are other officials appointed from other relevant Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) to serve as Advisers or Observers on the Committee, that will bring in peculiar information and make the work transparent.”

The Minister was upbeat that the Committee would discharge the assignment with the seriousness and the urgency it deserves. “This is more so, considering the need to sustain the relative peace and harmony on our campuses.”

He appealed to the Committee to double its effort to conclude the assignment and produce a realistic and workable agreements that would holistically tackle the challenges confronting the Nigerian University System (NUS), and reposition it to effectively play its very important role in national development.

He assured the panel of the Federal Government’s support and cooperation in the course of the important national assignment. “In addition, the Committee is to be further guided by the Ag. Executive Secretary, NUC, Chris Maiyaki, going forward on matters of the renegotiation exercise”.

ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, in his remarks, appreciated the Federal Government for the gesture, and appealed to the Committee to be dedicated and committed to the task. “This should not be like the previous committees that displayed some form of unseriousness to the task,” he said.

Responding, Chairman of the Committee, Yayale Ahmed, promised that they would work collectively to ensure a workable agreements that would guarantee peace, harmony and progress in the tertiary Institutions.

“It won’t be a case of ‘Us versus Them’. Education is the bedrock of development of any society, and as a result, we won’t like anything that would result in academic disruption in the institutions.”

The Guardian reports that ASUU has been advocating for improved funding for public institutions, earned academic allowances, university autonomy since 2009 among others.