Nigerian government urged to reach an agreement with ASUU

Nigerian government urged to reach an agreement with ASUU
Anulika Menanya, Lagos

The Nigerian government has been urged to reach an immediate agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and end the union’s strike as university students are at the receiving end of their actions.

A public affairs analyst, Patrick Chukwuelu gave the call in an interview with journalist in Lagos, south west Nigeria.

He pointed out that the government’s refusal to implement the earlier demands signed by late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration in 2009 amounts to share deceit.

The union’s demand

Part of the union’s demand include infrastructural development in the universities, releasing funding for research and development in most establishments, as well as providing  about 106 billion Naira as end allowances that will cover assessments by professors for projects of PHD students and professorship.

The strike by ASUU, which is in protest against the Nigerian government’s alleged refusal to implement the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement due for re-negotiation in six months, has crippled academic activities in several schools in Nigeria.

The Chairman of Nigerian Universities Commission, Professor Julius Okojie, at a senate hearing, opposed the demand stressing that the amount was nearly 10 times what universities get as capital grant yearly, which is about 11 billion Naira.

The agreement also includes 26 per cent funding of education, wage improvement and upward review of retirement age of professors from 65 to 70.

In view of this, the ordinary Nigerian, who usually bears the brunt of defective policies and dishonouring agreements, called on both the Nigerian government and the ASUU executives to agree on a common term as students have been made to stay at home.

Chukwuelu was of the view that the educational sector needed more funding in order to improve the quality of education in Nigeria.
 

Williams