The ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities has entered its seventh month, The PUNCH reports.
The union, on February 14, 2022, embarked on a strike
following what it described as the failure of the government to meet some of
its demands.
The union is calling on the government to improve the
condition of service of university lecturers, release earned allowances for
lecturers, and release revitalisation funds for universities, among other
things.
ASUU, vice-chancellors, pro-chancellors
Meanwhile, the leadership of ASUU met with the Committee of
Vice-Chancellors and Pro-Chancellors of Universities on Wednesday over the
lingering strike.
One of our correspondents gathered that the meeting was
proposed by the peace team set up by the vice-chancellors.
The PUNCH reports that the peace team comprises past
vice-chancellors and pro-chancellors such as the former pro-chancellor of the
University of Calabar, Senator Nkechi Nwagogu; former vice-chancellor of the
University of Maiduguri, Prof J.D. Amin; and former vice-chancellor of the
University of Ibadan, Emeritus Professor A.O. Bamiro, among others.
A source familiar with the matter, who did not want his name
in print as he was not permitted to speak to the press, noted, “The meeting was
originally proposed by the peace team that was set up by the committee of
vice-chancellors.
The meeting was held at the National Universities
Commission, and all the issues were raised, the issue of funding, that is, the
release of the revitalisation fund, the withheld salaries, adjustment of
salaries and most importantly ending strikes permanently in universities.”
When asked if the union accepted the demands, the source
said, “It was not a negotiation meeting; the VCs and the Pro-chancellors are
not from the government’s side; to me, they just came to share their opinions
on the matter.”
Former VCs
Meanwhile, former vice-chancellors, in a communiqué made
available to The PUNCH in Abuja on Wednesday, hailed the Federal Government for
approaching the National Industrial Court in a bid to end the strike.
The communiqué partly read, “We are aware that the Federal
Government has sought a legal interpretation of the nature and character of the
dispute as a way of breaking the deadlock.
“This is novel, and we applaud the move as civilised,
however, both parties will faithfully abide by the provisions of Industrial
Arbitration as enshrined in the International Labour Organisation Conventions.”
They proposed a middle ground where the government can
resolve the trust issues by taking action to propose to the National Assembly
its decision on improved funding.
ILO wades in
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the International
Labour Organisation’s Country Director, Vanessa Phala, has stated that the
organisation is providing technical assistance to the government to ensure that
labour laws are amended.
She disclosed this at the 15th Annual Banking and Finance
Conference, organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, on
Wednesday in Abuja.
FG faults roadblocks
The Federal Government, on Wednesday, said protesting
students who blocked a traffic-laden section of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway are
“violating” the law.
The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said
this when briefing State House Correspondents shortly after this week’s Federal
Executive Council meeting presided over by the President, Major General
Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
NANS justifies roadblocks
However, NANS has threatened the continuous blocking of
major highways in Southwest states until the federal government yields to their
demands by ending the ongoing strike.
NANS South-West Coordinator, Emmanuel Olatunji, who spoke
exclusively with The PUNCH, said, “We know the protest might lead to suffering
for other road users. We decided to do that because we knew that our parents
were doing nothing. We want them to also feel the heat; we are sending a signal
to the federal government and our parents.
“We will protest at different locations where we know that it might affect the federal government. After doing this protest at two to three major highways, then we will move the protest to government parastatals.”
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