ASUU strike: Pro chancellors orders universities to reopen

The Committee of Pro-Chancellorsof Federal
Universities on Tuesday called for the
immediate re -opening of all shut down
universities across the country .
This is contained in a communiqué signed
by the committee’ s Chairman, Prof. Kimse
Okoko , released in Abuja on Tuesday.
The communiqué was issued at the end of
the committee’ s meeting to discuss the
lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union
of Universities (ASUU) and other issues
affecting the Nigerian University System.
It stated that the call for the re- opening of
the universities was unanimously agreed by
all Pro-chancellorsin the interest of the
country .
The communique directed all the Vice-
Chancellors to comply with the decision.
Bayero University kano : Pro-chancellors
order all universities to reopen
It commended the efforts by the Federal
Government to address the major issues that
led to the strike and lauded the personal
intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan
in the resolution of the dispute.
It also expressed satisfaction with the
outcome of the referendum conducted in all
the branches of ASUU nationwide, which
voted 60- 40 in favour of the suspension of
the ongoing strike .
The communique explained that the
committee’s decision was based on the
negative impact the strike had had on the
university system , students and the parents.
It , however , appealed for the understanding
from the leadership and members of ASUU
to ensure speedy restoration of academic
activities on campuses
News Nigeria reports.

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ASUU vows to continue strike, as earned allowances divides union

Hope of final resolution of the ongoing strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was dashed on Saturday, as the union has vowed to continue with the industrial action.
This was the outcome of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting secretly held in Kano, where it was agreed that the strike would continue until it got concrete assurance of implementation of all agreements from the Federal Government.

In a release the union sent to its members and obtained by Sunday Tribune, it said: “...based on feedback from branches, the union resolved to clear some grey areas before any further action. If we must remove strikes as a regular feature in our University system, then we must get things sorted out permanently. Be steadfast as we await next congress meeting.”

Attempts by pressmen, who had positioned themselves at the Bayero University Kano as early as 7 a.m. yesterday, to get the outcome of the meeting were unsuccessful, as it was learnt that the branch chairmen of the union across the country, which converged on Kano on Friday, had decided not to talk to the media.

Sunday Tribune reliably gathered that the ASUU NEC was still meeting as of 7 p.m. yesterday, hoping to reach a concrete decision which it would transmit to other members at the next congress meeting.

According to a source, who spoke to Sunday Tribune on condition of anonymity, though the union agreed that the offer by Federal Government to inject N200 billion into universities annually, beginning from 2014 and for the next four years was sensible, members were skeptical about the implementation of all the agreements reached.


“We agreed that the Federal Government’s offer is sensible but we are not convinced about its implementation and so we have to continue the strike so as to fully sort things out to avoid future strikes,” the source stated.

ASUU had embarked on the strike in July, following the failure of the Federal Government to implement a 2009 agreement it entered into with the union, citing the needs to upgrade the universities to world standards and improve the condition of service of the lecturers, among others, with the Federal Government releasing N100billion for the improvement of universities and N40 billion to be shared as earned allowance, while promising to make more funds available.

Sunday Tribune, however, gathered that a fresh crisis might have been set off in the union over the issue of earned allowance.

According to the source, the manner university management shared the earned allowance among varsity workers was already causing disaffection among ASUU members. The lecturers, it was learnt, felt bitter that their struggle had only benefited SSANU and NASU which did not participate in the strike but got hefty returns, “because the managements have shared the allowance wrongly.

“ASUU members got less than they deserved from the allowance while other unions fed fat from it; it looks as if we only fought for other unions. Members are really angry about this,” he said, noting that these were some of the issues that would be tabled at the congress of the union later in the week.

Other contentious issues, stated the source, “are the 2009 agreement which is due for re-negotioation and our salary. We felt that until these are resolved, it will be futile to call off the strike. So the strike continues.”
Source: Nigerian Tribune

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Primary School Teacher Beats 4-year Old Pupil to Death in Ondo

Detectives in Ondo State have detained a primary school teacher, Alade Adebayo, for allegedly flogging to death a four-year-old female pupil Elizabeth Wanogha.
The teacher, according to report, accused the deceased of being stubborn in the class. He was said to have beaten the girl to a state of coma.
Cries from other pupils in the class reportedly attracted other teachers who rushed to the scene where they found that the girl had fainted.
She was said to have been rushed to a private hospital and was admitted but reportedly died later.
Police authorities, however, said that the pupil died two weeks after the beating by the suspect.
The father of the deceased, Mr Wanogha lodged a complaint at the Fanibi Police station, alleging that his daughter died as a result of the injuries sustained from the severe beating by her teacher.
Following the complaint, the teacher was arrested for interrogation.
Contacted, the Police image maker, Wole Ogodo, confirmed that the teacher had been arrested.
Ogodo however said that people should not jump into conclusion that it was the beating which took place about two weeks earlier that led to the death of the pupil.
He pointed out that the autopsy will determine the cause of the pupil’s death.
Ogodo said that the suspect is being quizzed at the state Criminal Investigative Department, SCID.
He explained further that the deceased was hospitalised immediately after the beating but died two weeks after.
Ogodo said that investigation into the death of the pupil continues adding that the findings would be made public.
The father of the deceased pupil insisted that the teacher should be prosecuted for murder.
Mr wanogho who lived at Adebowale street Fanibi vowed that the matter would be pursued to a logical conclusion to serve as deterrent to wicked teachers who vent their anger on innocent pupils put in their care.
He appealed to NGOs to take the matter up by ensuring that it was not swept under the carpet.
The proprietor of the school declined comment on the incident.

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ASUU strike: Still on the matter; Iyayi's death

Unfortunately, the on-going indefinite ASUU strike now in its 4th month has claimed the life of one of ASUU’s former President, Prof. Festus Iyayi. The erudite scholar died in an auto crash on Tuesday on Abuja-Lokoja Road in Kogi State, while on his way to Kano for an ASUU Congress meeting.


CURIOUSLY, penultimate Monday, the nation ernestly expected the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to end its indefinite strike action following President Goodluck Jonathan’s 13-hour meeting with its officials. But that was not to be. However, at the end of the meeting, Nigerians were offered hope of a possible early call-off by ASUU officials.


FOR almost four months running, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been prosecuting an indefinite strike action to press home their demand for the implementation of a 2009 agreement reached with the Federal Government and a Memorandum of Understanding entered into with the same government based on the 2009 agreement and how best to implement.
FROM our understanding, the crux of the matter is the Federal Government’s irresponsibility as it enters into agreement with the striking teachers only to renege on implementation. We consider the action of government as irresponsible and we condemn such official rascality, given the fact that ASUU in 2011 also dislocated the nation’s public universities for the same grievances.


WE are deeply concerned with the severe impact of strike actions on our public Universities across the country, which has led in the past to even loss of academic calendar and incalculable losses as it pertains to dislocation of learning process by affected university students.


STRIKE actions have also contributed significantly to the decline in the quality of graduates of our public universities as students are hurried with lectures as soon as such strike actions are called off. Also, as a result of hurried academic calendars, little attention in most cases is paid to research, which is an important component of academic pursuits.


THE on-going ASUU strike undoubtedly has disrupted examinations in a number of public universities and paralysed academic activities in all others. This is unacceptable and we urge both parties to the dispute to always consider the future of the students first, above all other considerations.


IN the light of the forgoing, while we believe that the university lecturers will from time to time have legitimate grounds to be angry with their employers, the frequent resort to the strike option is also unacceptable.


WE are, however, disappointed at the poor handling of the dispute between it and the University teachers by the Federal Government as evident in the empty claims of the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai who merely tells the teachers to call of strike action after some poor coordinated meetings of some officials.


WE urge the Federal Government of Nigeria to be a responsible corporate citizen who respects agreements with other parties and institutions. Government disputes with university teachers lately have been largely due to broken promises and unfilled agreements, very often on the part of government.


WE expect ASUU to equally resort to alternative dispute resolution mechanisms used by organized labour in other parts of the world to safeguard our public University system, which is the only option available to children of the poor who would not be able to afford private university education.


ON funding, ASUU must understand that Government (Federal or State) alone cannot fund university education in Nigeria. It is important for ASUU and university authorities to begin to look inwards for internal revenue generation. Elsewhere, public Universities’ research and business activities operated by the universities generate substantial amount of income for funding teaching and learning. A situation where public universities depend almost one hundred percent on government is deplorable.


IT is on this score we want to call on the federal government to immediately revisit the issue of university autonomy with a view to divesting its grip on the nation’s universities and provide a policy framework for responsible internal revenue generation and transparent as well as accountable and judicious use of such revues for the overall development of each of the public universities.


ALSO, we call on the Federal Government to take immediate steps to respect its 2009 agreement with ASUU and implement all provisions to the letter.


LASTLY, we want the federal government to carry out a comprehensive review of all conditions of service of all government workers whether academic, non-academic, hazardous or non-hazardous with a view to harmonizing all wages/salaries, allowances and entitlements across its workforce and eliminate all disparities that tend to fuel all kinds of chain agitations from various trade unions and professional associations with an ultimate goal of ending the resort to strike actions once and for all.
Source: Nigerian Observers

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Patrick Obahiagbon Speaks on Former ASUU President, Prof. Festus Iyayi's death

The demise of the late Prof. Iyayi, is indeed a blast to the nation, especially in times like this. Meanwhile, Patrick Obiahagbon had a say in the departure of the late professor.

In his words, he said;

"The grand initiation of Professor Festus Iyayi is a lancinating loss of another stentorian voice, against retrograde and prebendal forces of primitive mercantilism.
That he passed through transition on matters pro bono publico, bears eloquent testimony to our state of dystopia. Such is the evanescence of life.Its all vanitas vanitatum...."

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Outrage Over Killing Of Festus Iyayi By Police Escort Truck In Kogi Governor's Convoy

Outrage has greeted the killing, on Tuesday, 12 of November, of former President of the Academic Staff Union of University, ASUU, Professor Festus Iyayi, by a car in the convoy of the Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada, with many slamming the governor over his drivers’ recklessness.
Some even want the driver of the car that killed Iyayi prosecuted and that, if possible, Nigerians should frustrate any future attempts by the governor to seek election into any public office.
Iyayi died at 66, in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital, on his way to Kano for a meeting of the ASUU National Executive Council concerning the over four-month old strike embarked upon by the union.
Lagos-based lawyer, Femi Falana, while expressing shock at the death of his former client, urged Nigerians to stop agonising and take action.
Falana, who fought and won the case against the sack of Iyayi and Professor Itse Sagay from the University of Benin during the era of Professor Grace Alele-Williams as Vice Chancellor, also complained that governors in the country, with the exception the Lagos state governor, Babatunde Fashola, are known for their reckless convoys.
He said the driver that killed Iyayi must be arrested and prosecuted because the drivers in Wada’s convoy are notorious for causing fatal accidents.
When contacted this morning, Professor Itse Sagay was too devastated to speak on the death of Iyayi as they were very close during Iyayi’s lifetime.
Prof. Ahunna Okerengwo, the Chairman, University of Port Harcourt chapter of ASUU, said she was still in shock over the death of Prof. Iyayi.
Toni Kan, a journalist and author called Iyayi’s death a sacrifice, another major and sad loss of one of the nation’s best.
The Head, Department of English, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Professor Damian Opata, described the death as unfortunate.
“It is very sad coming at this time,” he said.
The National Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, Chibuzo Asomugha, said the death of Iyayi is both shocking and disappointing.
“What! How did it happen? I can’t believe this! This is quite shocking and disappointing. I’m lost for words, I can’t make further comments, please,” he reacted when our reporter contacted him.
Also reacting to the sudden death of Iyayi, chairman of University of Lagos chapter of ASUU, Oghenekaro Ogbinaka, condemned the manner in which the former National President of the union lost his life.
“The convoy of the Kogi State governor in its usual manner, has cut short the life of one of our best. It is a very sad day for ASUU,” Ogbinaka said.
Reacting to Prof. Iyayi’s death, Prof. Friday Okonofua of the University of Benin, accused Governor Wada of being responsible for his death.
“It is the governor of Kogi that killed him. He was killed by a reckless convoy. He killed one of our most distinguished academics who has won laurels all over the world. We would hold the governor of Kogi responsible for his death,” Prof. Okonofua said.
President Goodluck Jonathan, in his condolence message to Iyayi’s family, the leadership and members of the ASUU, said he was especially dismayed that Iyayi died while going to contribute to efforts to finally resolve the ASUU strike which has disrupted academics in the nation’s universities for over four months.
Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state used the opportunity to appeal to ASUU to reconsider government’s position on the strike.
Sunny Akhigbe, a Nigerian who commented on the death of Iyayi, said: “this is tragically painful, a very big loss. I knew this fellow in UNIBEN when ASUU was very vibrant. This Nasir Fagge-led ASUU of today is not serious. Are they so broke that they cannot take care of their elders?
“Why should an elder who led the association almost three decades ago cramp himself into a bus and set out for a journey of more than 14 hours by road to attend NEC meeting? Even leaders of road transport workers will not do that.”
Born in 1947, Iyayi, who was the ASUU president in 1986, was also an author with four books to his credit. He also won the Commonwealth Prize for Literature for ‘Heroes’, one of his books, in 1988.

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ASUU strike: Varsities vote to end strike; strike slated to end on Thursday

The ASUU strike 2013 continues, but the latest update appears to be good news–most of the union branches voted in meetings on Monday to end the strike.
The meetings were held across Nigeria following a marathon meeting last week between union leadership and President Jonathan Goodluck and Goodluck’s team of negotiators.
Based on the results coming out of the branch meetings, it appears the clear majority of branches voted to end the strike.
Next comes a National Executive Council meeting of the branch leaders on Wednesday in Kano.
If the council moves to end the strike, then the final step would be a meeting with President Jonathan on Thursday, and then the strike would be over.
Some university students are already preparing to return to their respective campuses, reported the Leadership.
The president spoke at an educational exhibition in Abuja, saying:
“We need therefore to be conscious of the impact on our children, institutions and the country at large, of unnecessary disruptions in our educational institutions. There is therefore the need to emphasize dialogue where conflict or any sort of misunderstanding arose. This is the civilized approach to doing things so as not to have negative effect on society.”
See full voting results below:
Voted to continue strike
University of Jos (Note: The chairman of this branch, Dr. David Jangdam, said that despite the vote the union will resume classes if directed by the national body)
University of Benin
Lagos State University
Voted to end strike:
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Bayero University Kano
Delta State University
Ekiti State University
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
Federal University of Technology, Owerri
Federal University of Technology, Akure
Federal University of Technology, MINNA
Imo State University
Obafemi Awolowo University
Olabisi Onabanjo University
University of Calabar
University of Lagos
University of Nigeria, Nsukka
University of Ibadan
University of Abuja
University of Port-Harcourt
Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto

Source: The Epoch Times

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ASUU strike: Union begins consultation over FG's new offer

The Academic Staff Union of Universities is set to convene its National Executive Committee this weekend to discuss the offer made to the union by the Federal Government to develop public universities, it was learnt on Wednesday.
ASUU President, Dr. Nasir Faggae after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan which ended in the early hours of Tuesday had told reporters that the union would take back an undisclosed message to the striking lecturers.
The Federal Government had offered to inject N1.1tn into public universities in the next five years.
The Punch gathered that the union had concluded arrangement to hold the meeting to collate the views of members before a final decision would be taken on whether to accept or reject the offer.
Usually, the decision to embark on or to call off strike is taken at the union’s NEC meeting.
It was gathered that the meeting might hold any day between now and next week Friday.
In the hierarchy of ASUU, the zonal coordinators after a meeting of the national officers are to brief the branch chairmen who would consequently call for congress in their respective universities.
But a source who spoke on condition of anonymity said a meeting with the zonal coordinators usually take place two days after a major meeting with the Federal Government because they have to come from the nine zones of the country.
He said, “There is a national strike coordinating committee comprising the national principal officers and the zonal coordinators which is the highest decision-making body. In the country, we have nine zones. After the meeting, the zonal coordinators will brief the branch chairmen who will now call for a congress to brief all members.”
Asked if the strike would be called off soon, the source replied, “It is not a decision that could be taken in a hurry. All members must be carried along. We have a mandate which is very clear – that is the implementation of the 2009 agreement. Anything other than that, they will have to relate to members. The zonal coordinators will collate the decision of the branches and forward them to the national officers.”
A chairman of a local branch of ASUU in a university in the South-West confided in one of our correspondents that the date for the NEC meeting would be communicated to all the chapters on Thursday (today).
Another source said, “Before we embarked on the strike, there was a referendum. The referendum did not emanate from the principal officers but from the branches. Members must be briefed before any final decision could be taken.”
Meanwhile, strong indications emerged on Wednesday that ASUU may soon call off its four-month old strike as the Nigeria Labour Congress described the meeting between President Jonathan and the leadership of the union as the most meaningful since 2009.
The Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Mr. Chris Uyot, in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents on Wednesday, urged ASUU to explain to its members the offer the Federal Government had made to the striking lecturers in order to arrive at the next line of action.
According to him, since ASUU is an affiliate of the NLC, it is the responsibility of the union to decide on whether to call off the strike or not in accordance with standard labour procedure.
He said, “We simply advise that they carry out meaningful consultation with their members and ensure that whatever was offered was explained in totality to members of ASUU.
“I want to say that since the agreement of 2009 was signed, and of the various negotiations that have taken place, this was the most meaningful of the meetings.
“All discussions were taken aside and the issues in the 2009 agreement were examined, discussed and analyzed in totality.
“Let the ASUU explain in totality the offer that was made to its members. Even the NLC has to explain to the members of the National Executive Council of the Congress before taking decisions in such matters. I can only say that calling off the strike depends on ASUU,” he added.

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ASUU strike will soon be a thing of history - Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said that because of the importance his administration attached to the medical and educational sectors, he was determined to do all within his powers to resolve all issues that currently lead to labour disputes and strikes in both sectors.
Resident doctors and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities are currently on strike.
Jonathan promised to resolve the labour crises while granting audience to a delegation of the Nigeria Medical Association led by its National President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
His promise was contained in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr.Reuben Abati, at the end of the closed-door session.
“I believe that we must manage both (education and medical) sectors in such a way that nobody engaged in them will think of going on strike again.We will continue to proactively evolve measures that will help us to permanently overcome the problems that lead to strikes by health and education professionals,” the President was quoted as saying at the meeting attended by the Minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu, Minister of
Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu and other top government officials.
Jonathan reportedly assured the delegation that his administration would take necessary actions to ensure that the right conditions were created for Nigerian medical professionals to stay at home and avail Nigerians of their skills and expertise instead of migrating to other countries.
He said his government was determined to correct a situation where about 25,000 Nigerian medical consultants were currently practizing in the United States alone as confirmed to him by President Barack Obama.
He described as an anomaly a situation where this huge number of Nigerian medical experts were abroad and yet the nation could not treat its sick people in its own hospitals He said, “There is clearly a missing link somewhere and we will do everything possible to fix it. We will continue to work with professional bodies and all stakeholders to come up with more policies and actions that will help us overcome current challenges in our medical sector.
“We will work with the National Assembly to ensure the quick passage of the National Health Bill. We will take prompt action to reconstitute the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. We will also consider recommendations for the establishment of the Office of the Surgeon-General of the Federation.
“I believe that we must always do what is best for our country. We will review all the other issues you have raised and act accordingly. When things are done properly, issues of welfare and remuneration in the health sector will disappear.”
The President also promised that the Federal Government would explore the option of creating a special intervention fund that would facilitate the rapid establishment of more centres of medical excellence across the country.

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ASUU to FG: "We won’t end protest until you meet all our demands"

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has declared that they won’t call off the ongoing strike until its demands were fully met by the federal government.

The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria chapter Chairman of ASUU, Dr Muhammed Kabir Aliyu, stated this while speaking with newsmen shortly after their congress meeting on Friday in Zaria.

Aliyu believes that, “the federal government has not shown any sign of sincerity in keeping to the agreement reached in 2009 and ASUU will only call off the strike once our demands are met by the federal government.”

“The issue at stakes is that the federal government is not sincere. The government is trying to re-negotiate what we have already negotiated and agreed with them. The union presented a demand in 2006, which led to the 2009 agreement. They (government) should implement what they have agreed upon.

“Even the then Vice President, who is now the President of Nigeria, was involved. In fact, he read the agreement and was among those who advised the late President Yar’Adua to ask his team on the government side to sign the agreement.

“So, it is that agreement again they want to change but ASUU is insisting on it. The strike is lingering because government is not sincerea, they are trying to re-negotiate or repudiate the agreement and ASUU will not agree to that.”

On a recent statement attributed to the Senate President, David Mark that those who signed the 2009 agreement on behalf of government were incompetent, Aliyu said, “Indirectly, the Senate President is saying that the current Nigerian president is not competent and not just the Nigerian president, but all the Vice Chancellors that were there, the pro-chancellors that were there, the executive secretary that was there, the Minister of education’s representative that was there, Ministry of Finance that was there, Ministry of labour that was there, National Universities Commission that was there are not competent. So, what he is saying is that the whole government is not competent, and perhaps doesn’t know its left from right. That is the implication of what the Senate President is saying”.

On the implication of the strike on the academic standard, Aliyu noted that, “Our strike is trying to even improve the system. We cannot continue to pretend that we are graduating good students. People know that our students are not competent enough to call themselves graduates, that is why ASUU is trying to address it.

“So, the strike is not the problem; the cause of the strike is the problem. The strike has no negative effect directly, because it is trying to improve the system. Now that the government said they have given N100 billion naira to build more laboratories, libraries and the rest or buy equipment, that will improve the system.”

Source: DailyPost NG

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ASUU strike: Fagge salutes colleagues

As the ongoing ASUU strike enters day 121, the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Dr. Nasir Fagge, has commended members of the union for their conduct since the strike began on July 1.
Fagge commended the efforts of ASUU principal leaders at ensuring that ‘there is no going back’ until their demands are met.
In a statement posted on the association’s website, he also described the Federal Government’s stance on the union’s demands as “no more than a repeat performance of a one-act-play: all the deceptions, propaganda, lies, mischief and such other Shenanigans.’’
The statement partly reads, “Dear comrades, as the struggle to save Nigerian University system is being pursued, I like to salute all our members for their resoluteness in ensuring that the 2009 ASUU/Government Agreement is implemented in accordance with the Roadmap defined by the 2012 MoU.
“We believe very strongly that the rot and decay in the university system cannot only be arrested but is also reversible. We believe even more strongly that the key to turning round the university system lies in the sincere implementation of the agreement.
“But our resolve to save the system and our country remains unwaivered. We will continue to carry the banner of this struggle to its logical conclusion. I urge all our members to maintain the spirit of camaraderie and remain firmly resolute in ensuring that our patriotic struggle succeeds. United we bargain, divided we beg!”
Meanwhile, the pioneer Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Jubril Aminu, has expressed optimism that the ongoing ASUU strike will soon be over.
Aminu said this in a speech he delivered at the ‘50+1 Anniversary Lecture’ of the commission held on Tuesday in Abuja. He noted that the FG was committed to the funding of the universities to ensure that students return to the campus.
The strike began after a series of warning strikes by the lecturers over the non-implementation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement. Their demands, among others, are the rehabilitation and provision of infrastructure in the nation’s universities and the payment of earned allowances.
In a related development, the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, Chibuzo Asomugha, has said the union has yet to hear from the FG concerning the fresh industrial action which began on Friday, October 4, 2013, following the latter’s inability to resolve outstanding issues with the union.

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ASUU strike: Lecturers' demands capable of hindering university education - Senator

The Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Prof Sola Adeyeye, on Monday said that most of the requests of the members of the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities as contained in the controversial 2009 agreement with the Federal Government were unrealistic.
He said the requests, if granted, could hamper the development of university education in the country.
Adeyeye, who was a lecturer for about four decades before he joined politics, said most of the university lecturers were apparently not aware of what operated in the western world.
Adeyeye, a professor of Molecular Biology, told journalists in Abuja that in the United States of America for instance, most of the institutions were flexible in terms of salaries and allowances of university lecturers.
He spoke while reacting to a statement credited to the chairman of the University of Ibadan chapter of ASUU, Dr. Segun Ajiboye, who condemned Adeyeye’s contribution on the floor of the senate on the issue.
Ajiboye had said, “Having enjoyed good salary and benefits as a lecturer abroad, the senator was indifferent to the rot in the Nigerian universities.”
But Adeyeye, said, “I was bemused by the reference by ASUU spokesman, Dr. Ajiboye, to my enjoyment of Duquesne University’s reputed Flex Benefits for its members of academic and non-academic staff while denying similar benefits to ASUU members.
“First, in most instances, as its very name suggests, the Flex Benefits Programme at Duquesne was flexible. It was also contributory. The university simply matched up to a predetermined ratio, whatever amount had been contributed by the staff.
According to him, there are five universities within a four-mile radius of Duquesne University and each of the institutions has salary, wages and benefits structure that are unique to its own institution.
This, he said, was quite different from the Nigerian situation where he noted that” ASUU wanted a retention of the rigid system whereby a Professor of Engineering at the University of Lagos enjoyed similar salary structure as a Professor of Religious Study at Ibadan and a Professor of History at Ile-Ife.”
Adeyeye also faulted Ajiboye’s assertion that he had his own (Adeyeye’s)children educated in the USA, while not caring for the children of ordinary Nigerians who were being made to bear the grunts of the rots in the nation’s tertiary education sector.
“Dr. Ajiboye erroneously, and perhaps deliberately and mischievously, sneered that as a senator, I sent my own children to be educated in the USA. All my children had either graduated or had been admitted into a university between September, 1980, when I left Nigeria and 2002, when I finally returned to the country.”

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"Sack Wike now" , Rivers People Forum tells Jonathan

A group, Rivers’ People Forum, RPF, a socio-political platform of all Rivers people, at home and in the Diaspora, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to fire the Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, over his recent comment on the ongoing ASUU strike.
Wike had, on Tuesday, said that the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, would linger for more months.
Angered by the comment, President of RPF, Charles Bekwele had in a statement, said Wike was not competent for the job, hence the need for his sack.
The group said Wike’s appointment as a Minister must be terminated with immediate effect in order to save the education sector from imminent and total collapse.
He said, “We have said time and again that Wike, who is from Rivers State, does not mean well for President Jonathan. He is a threat to democracy and is hell bent on destroying the Jonathan administration. Wike’s actions, inactions and statements are injurious, inimical and pernicious to Jonathan’s administration.”

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"Return to classrooms" - Jonathan begs ASUU

President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday, 19 October 2013, in Ado-Ekiti appealed to members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to return to the classrooms in the interest of their students.
He made the appeal at the inauguration of the College of Engineering Complex at the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Ekiti State.
The three-storey college complex was also named after the President.
Jonathan urged ASUU members to heed his appeal saying that whatever their grievances might be, keeping students out of school for four months was unpatriotic.
“I once again appeal to the entire membership of ASUU to pause and ponder on the adverse effect of their action on the future of the vibrant youths of this great nation.
“The collective destiny of tens of thousands of tomorrow’s leaders should not be held hostage to vagaries of labour disputes.
“As long as we are humans, as long as we are a developing society, this labour dispute must come up.
“I always say that even in the developed societies we hear about labour dispute; and there is no society, even the most developed, that has provided the facilities for every worker. (NAN)

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BSU Lecturers expresses discontent over FG's non payment of salary

Lecturers of Benue State University (BSU) on Friday lamented about the non-payment of their September salary, as they remained adamant over their demands which led to their current strike.
Dr Samuel Ikoni, the Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in BSU, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi that the non-payment of their September salary was a worrisome development.
``It is unclear if the non-payment of our salary is connected to the no-work-no-pay threat issued by Gov Gabriel Suswam some weeks ago," he said.
NAN recalls that Suswam then ordered the lecturers to return to work or forfeit their salary.
However, the lecturers defied the order, insisting that their continued participation in the strike was for the benefit of the BSU.
NAN also recalls that the ASUU embarked on the strike to press for increased funding of infrastructural projects and researches in the country’s universities, among others.
Ikoni, however, noted that the non-payment of salary was not peculiar to ASUU members alone, as members of the non-academic staff union too had yet to receive their salary.
He regretted the delay, saying that it had caused some hardship to the lecturers.
He stressed that the lecturers’ salary payment schedule, which was taken to the bank, did not have “a cash backing’’ to enable payment. (NAN)
Source: Leadership

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Dont force youths to react - Catholic Bishop warns FG

The Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Rt. Rev. Godfrey Onah, at the weekend,
warned politicians to retrace their steps, as it would not be possible to quench the anger of Nigerian youth who may soon run out of patience over the poor treatment they are getting from government and their leaders at various levels.
The clergyman stated at the funeral mass organized for Lolo Josephine Oyima Abba, mother of the Enugu State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Engr. Vita Abba at Ede-Oballa, in Nsukka Council Area of Enugu State.
He warned that such neglect could force the youth to revolt against their leaders
The Bishop cautioned that it would be difficult to stop the youth if they were further pushed into frustration.
He threw posers to both the government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, on the reasons behind the over three-month-old industrial action that has paralyzed academic activities.
He said, “I know that I have enough persons here and also hopefully, enough instruments to carry this message to the ears of the highest echelons of power in this country.
”The common people, the students and their parents, whom I represent, do not believe the explanations the politicians and the academics are giving for the strike; we don’t believe them and we are appealing to them in God’s name to remember we will all end this way (pointing to the dead); let them end this strike immediately.
”I want to ask a question; it is a question not a statement. I am asking the leadership of the country; is it really true that you don’t have enough money to improve upon the quality of education in this country or is it that you are stocking up money in preparation for 2015 in order to buy your way to power or to secure your future indefinitely through corruption?”

Source: DailyPost NG

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ASUU strike: Nigerian lecturers vows to continue strike as FG stop salary payments

The government’s new directive starts from September. The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, is “unshaken” by the federal government’s recent ‘No Work No Pay’ policy on the striking lecturers, our source has learnt.
The federal government’s decision to stop paying the lecturers’ salaries was confirmed by the university lecturers after their Thursday meeting. Rising from ASUU’s zonal conference in Abuja on Thursday, the union responded to the ‘No Work No Pay’ strategy by stating that it had resorted to other welfare strategies to cope with the effects of the policy.
“The Federal Government has through the National Universities Commission, directed universities to stop the payment of our salaries effective September this year and since then our salaries have not been paid,” Clement Chup, ASUU Zonal Chairman in Abuja, said. “Part of (our) welfare strategy, involve distributing food items, giving out soft loans and cash advances to members,” he added.
The union is currently on an over three-month-old industrial action over the failure of the government to implement the 2009 agreement it reached with the lecturers. Festus Iyayi, a former ASUU President, said that the union remains resolute in the face of the government’s latest strategy. “I can confirm that the federal government has stopped payment of the salaries of academic staff,” Prof. Iyayi, who led ASUU in 1986, told our source
“This ‘get them to capitulate by starving them’ policy has been employed by government in the past. It did not work. Our members are ready to make whatever sacrifices are needed to make government honour agreements,” he added. The federal government’s latest move may have pulled the plug on negotiations between it and the striking lecturers.
The government toed a similar path during the 2009 ASUU strike but the lecturers stuck to their guns, with then ASUU President, Ukachukwu Awuzie, stating that “they would not allow the issue of salaries to dampen the desire of its members to seek fundamental changes in the Nigeria’s educational system.

Source: PremiumTimes NG

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ASUU strike: Electricity workers threatens power shut down

The National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, yesterday, gave the Federal Government seven days to resolve the strike embarked upon by Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, or face a total shut down of electricity facilities in the country.
The union said that it could no longer sit back and watch those in positions of authority destroy the future of young Nigerians who have remained at home for weeks on account of the Federal Government’s refusal to meet the legitimate demands by ASUU.
General Secretary of NUEE, Mr Joe Ajaero, who spoke at a training workshop for labour leaders in the power sector in Enugu, said that electricity workers across the country would be directed to join other progressive labour unions “to shut down the country” as a way of expressing anger over the lingering face-off between the Federal Government and the academic staff.
He said: “We can no longer sit back and watch this disturbing drama going on between the Federal government and ASUU. If the strike is not addressed within the next one week, NUEE and other progressive unions, will shut down the country.
“It is unfortunate that those in power are not bothered about the closure of the universities. They are less concerned because none of their children are studying in Nigerian universities.
“Their children are overseas just as they travel overseas for medical attention because they have allowed our hospitals to die. Whether our children are out of school or not they are not bothered but we are going to join our children to stay at home from next week.”
Ajaero called on the National Assembly to make a legislation banning public office holders from sending their children to study abroad just as overseas medical trips by public officers should be outlawed to enable government address the numerous problems weighing the nation down.
“Our public institutions are dead because those unpatriotic leaders have nothing to do with them but when they are banned from traveling overseas to access improved facilities, they will have no option than to look inward and address our numerous challenges,” he added.
According to the NUEE General Secretary, the payment of their members’ entitlements had remained slow explaining that the government’s promise to conclude the payment before weekend might not be feasible as majority of the workers were yet to be settled.
He urged the Federal Government to stop playing politics with electricity workers’ entitlements, Ajaero reiterated the union’s resolve not to allow the new investors access to the power stations until all the workers were fully settled.
He, however, expressed regrets that some of the workers who had received their entitlements were already living in luxury by buying expensive cars and traveling overseas instead of investing the funds on rewarding ventures.
Ajaero stated that the training workshop for the union leaders was intended to enlighten them on the need to encourage their members to engage in investments that would be beneficial to them and members of their family after disengaging from service.

Source: AllAfrica

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NLC to Jonathan - "ASUU strike not politically motivated"

The Nigeria Labour Congress,NLC, yesterday, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to discountenance the impression that ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, was a political action against his government as nothing could be farther from the truth.
It then advised the President to tackle the crises in the education sector and prevent a shut-down of the sector.
NLC in a statement by its President, Abdulwaheed Omar, told President Jonathan that those telling him that the strike was politically motivated were the President’s enemies who rather than tell him the truth preferred to indulge in sycophancy, hypocrisy and boot-licking.
The statement titled “Do Not Allow Education Sector to Shut-Down”, reads: “The Nigeria Labour Congress calls on President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to tackle the crises in the education sector and prevent shut-down of the sector. We urge Mr. President to muster the necessary will and skill to confront the issues that threaten this vital sector.
Asuu cartoon
“As President of the country, he has the onerous task of restoring normalcy to the sector whether the issues are political as he has made the nation to believe or whether they are purely industrial. The threat of a total shut-down is present and immediate and deserves all the urgency and mobilization Mr President could muster. The developments in the Education sector are symptomatic of greater ills in the polity.”
“The strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), for instance is in its fourth month and has almost certainly disrupted an entire academic session with collateral consequences. Also the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has signaled its readiness to embark on a solidarity strike if government fails to resolve within two weeks the issues of contestation with ASUU. Most of these demands if not all, are not new, but are subsisting agreements which government is expected to honour. Some of these agreements border on salaries which government has agreed to pay but has elected to observe in the breach instead. For example the case with the Senior Staff Association of the Nigerian Universities, whose members are being owed for over three months.”
According to the statement “The avoidable strike action by ASUU has caused enough disruption or damage to the sector. The implications for the polity are grave and should be avoided, at least for the sake of our children. We also urge Mr President to discountenance the impression that the strike actions against his government are politically-motivated as nothing could be farther from the truth. Those who pursue this line of thinking are the ones who do not wish Mr President well. Rather than tell him the truth, they prefer to indulge in sycophancy, hypocrisy and boot-licking because it serves their personal motives.
“In order for Mr President to convince himself about the absence of any ulterior motive against his administration by any of the unions, especially ASUU which has come under accusation, we crave the indulgence of Mr President to insist on being availed the details of these agreements.
The Nigeria Labour Congress is not oblivious of the present challenges in the economy but it is convinced that with requisite discipline, will, prioritization and genuine dialogue, the government can reach a truce not just with the unions but could halt the decline in the economy.”

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Parents, Students, Stakeholders laments as ASUU strike reaces 100 days

The strike action embarked upon by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has entered its 100th day.
Millions of students, including those undertaking postgraduate programmes have been idling away at home since July 2.
The failure of the federal government to fulfil resolutions reached with ASUU in 2009 and non-payment of accumulated earned allowances owed the university lecturers are yet to be addressed.
The face-off took a turn for the worse with members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) threatening to join the strike by shutting down primary and secondary schools in the country in solidarity with ASUU.
However, President Goodluck Jonathan, during a recent media chat, said that the lingering strike has political undertone.
Dr Uchenna Kanu, a concerned parent, bemoaned the length of the strike and the negative effect it has had on students. He said, “Our children have been out of school for nearly four months now and the polytechnic lecturers are also threatening to join, and NUT also. If this happens, it means that this generation of Nigerian youth will be blocked off from education and, if that happens, it will amount to an intellectual genocide -- that is, wiping out a whole race intellectually -- and that is what we are preaching against.”
He appealed to the warring parties to consider the plight of the students who are affected and reach a speedy resolution to the crisis. “All parties involved have their case, they have their cause that they are defending but we are appealing to them to realize that they are the intellectual parents of these children and parents never go on strike. So we are appealing to them and, at the same time, we are appealing to the government to not allow the relationship to degenerate to a point where teachers now take recourse to striking. Strike should be not only a last resort but a rare resort,” he said.
Mrs Onuigbo Elezue, another parent, stated that the free time that the strike has afforded the students has led to a marked increase in acts of misdemeanor. She said, “Our children have gotten into all sorts of trouble because they have too much free time on their hands. Many young girls get impregnated every day by young boys because their idle hands have become workshops for the devil.”
Among the affected students, our source discovered that there was a general air of gloom and anger directed towards the federal government and ASUU. Tope Okunlola, a fresh graduate awaiting NYSC mobilisation, expressed his disappointment that the students’ suffering is not considered at all. He said, “This has been 100 days of absolute shame. It is perhaps the highest mark of irresponsibility that the said leaders of tomorrow would be allowed to waste away like this while our counterparts in other countries and private universities leave us in the dust.”
Another student, Tobi Wojuola, advised students to make good use of the time the strike has afforded them and pursue productive and meaningful ventures. He said, “It has been approximately 2, 400 hours of striking time and if you are the student who sleeps 10 hours a day, then well-done, you have slept 1, 000 hours of striking time.

Source: Leadership NG

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