Teachers in public universities yesterday called off their two-month old strike, following agreements reached with the Federal Government over their demands.Lecturers would resume work starting from today, president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities Ukachukwu Awuzie told journalists in Abuja after a meeting of the union's national executive.ASUU had been on strike since December 4 over disagreements with the Federal Government regarding improved funding of universities and better welfare for lecturers.Awuzie said the decision to suspend the strike was taken after the union collated advice and deliberated extensively on same from members across the country.He said the union's executive met in Abuja yesterday where they discussed the demands that led to the strike and the actions taken by government so far, and they decided to suspend the industrial action.Among the demands, he said, were 'funding requirements for revitalising theNigerian universities, Federal Government assistance to state universities, progressive increase of annual budgetary allocation to education to 26% between 2009 and 2020, earned allowances, amendment of the pension/retirement age of academics on the professorial cadre from 65 to 70 years and the establishment of the pension fund administrator.'Other demands were 'reinstatement of prematurely dissolved governing councils, transfer of Federal Government landed property to universities, setting up of research and development units by companies operating in Nigeria and teaching and research equipment provision to our laboratories and classrooms.'He said during the period of the strike, government and ASUU engaged in series of dialogue and discussions aimed at addressing these issues.As a result of these discussions, he said, government communicated to ASUU its position vide a letter dated January 24.With regards to funding, he said 'government reaffirms its commitment to the revitalisation of Nigerian universities through budgetary and non-budgetary sources of funds. Government will immediately stimulate the process with the sum of N100 billion and will build this up to a yearly sum of N400 billion in the next three years.'Awuzie, who was flanked by executives of the union, said the interventions will be based on prioritised needs.Also to be captured by the special intervention is a progressive increase of annual budgetary allocation to education to 26% between 2009 and 2020 and the acceptance in principle by government to pay earned academic allowances. ASUU said there was an implementation monitoring committee that will propose practical and sustainable ways of paying the allowances which will produce a report in 60 days.Part of the agreement also says government would direct universities to support internal staff development of all those not covered under the Tertiary Education Trust Fund intervention.On the amendment of the pension and retirement age of academics on the professorial cadre from 65 to 70 years, Awuzie said as soon as the legislative procedures for the bill were concluded, President Jonathan would assent to it not later than the end of this month.On the establishment of a pension fund administrator, 'government directed the IMC to take all necessary steps to register NUPEMCO within three months. Where the IMC has difficulties, it should refer the matter to the government for necessary action,' he said.With regards to the transfer of landed property to the universities, he said 'universities shall form a University Property Holding Company which shall, among other things, participate in the acquisition, management and concession of government properties.'Awuzie said that government undertook to reinstate the governing councils of various universities on or before February 12, but may make changes in external membership where it deemed necessary and that the tenure of the councils reinstated would end in February 2013 because they were set up in 2009 for a four-year term.'In order to ensure effective overall monitoring of the implementation of the FGN/ASUU agreement, government shall meet with the expanded IMC on quarterly basis to assess progress,' he said.
Click here to read full news..
