The Federal Government has reconstituted a team to renegotiate the 2009 agreement it had with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
Reconstituting the team, Education Minister, Adamu Adamu, said there is need to speedily bring to conclusion, all outstanding issues in the 2009 agreement in order to achieve the desired industrial peace on our campuses.
The Chairman and Members of the reconstituted 2009 FGN/University-Based Unions Agreement Re-negotiation Team are: Prof. Emeritus Nimi Briggs-(Pro-Chancellor, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo) – Chairman, Arc.Lawrence Patrick Ngbale- (Pro-Chancellor, Federal University. Wukari -Member (North East), Prof Funmi Togunu-Bickersteth-(Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Birnin Kebbi) -Member (South West), Sen. Chris Adighije- (Pro-Chancellor, Federal University. Lokoja –Member (South East).
Others include Prof. Olu Obafemi – (Pro-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Minna) – Member (North-Central). Prof. Zubairu Iliyasu-(Pro-Chancellor, Kano State University of Science and Technology)-Member (North West), Barr. Matthew B. Seiyefa mni- (Pro-Chancellor, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island)-Member (South-South).
The team will be inaugurated by the Minister on Monday, March 7.
All advisers and observers in the Federal Government/University-based Unions 2009 agreement Re-negotiation Team are expected to attend the inauguration.
Meanwhile, voting is underway among members of the ASUU on the federal government’s proposal to the Union in its last meeting with the Union on Tuesday evening.
First vote from the Bayero University Kano BUK chapter of ASUU insists that the proposal from the Federal government is not convincing enough therefore the Union should progress to total strike until the “government takes the demands of striking lecturers more seriously”.
ASUU however made it known that more votes are still expected.
Nneka Ukachukwu
