The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has slammed the Federal Government over its claim that the 2009 agreement with the union was only a draft and not a binding document.
Prof. Chris Piwuna, ASUU President, told Daily Trust on Thursday that the government’s position was misleading and a reflection of poor record-keeping on the part of public officials.
“In all our dealings with the Federal Government, one thing stands out — their record keeping is very poor. There is hardly any record you share with the government that after six months, if you come back, they will still have it.
“So, it is not surprising that the government is saying no agreement was signed,” Piwuna said.
He explained that the 2009 agreement was signed by the then Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mr. MacJohn Nwaobiala, on behalf of the Federal Government, while Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, the then ASUU President, signed for the union.
According to him, the document formed the basis for the payment of earned academic allowances and guided several aspects of university administration.
“The same document was what government used to pay academic allowances, external and internal examiners, and defence of postgraduate programmes. It also allowed lecturers to elect their heads of department rather than have them appointed by vice-chancellors.
“So, it is wrong to describe it as a draft,” he stressed.
Piwuna, however, said the Minister of Education may have confused the 2009 agreement with subsequent draft proposals produced by committees led by Munzali Jibrin, Nimi Briggs, and currently, Prof. Yayale Ahmed.
“If he is referring to those draft documents, then he would be correct. But if he is saying that no agreement was ever signed, then there is a problem,” he said.
On the possibility of strike, the ASUU leader said the union had not taken any decision as it awaited the outcome of the government’s internal meeting held on Thursday.
“We never gave a deadline for strike. Our branches will decide, as is the usual practice of the union,” he clarified.
He also dismissed reports that ASUU shunned Thursday’s meeting, noting that the session was for government representatives to deliberate among themselves.
Meanwhile, students have expressed concern over the looming crisis.
Ofodile Chisom, a student of the University of Jos, said another strike would disrupt their academic calendar.
“ASUU’s demands are not beyond what the government can handle. Another strike will only push us backward,” she said.
Another student, Pius Moses, said: “The strike has already caused us setbacks. I don’t want it to happen again.”
Pam Derek, another undergraduate, said the action would affect teaching practice preparations.
“Most of us planned to graduate in four years, but with these strikes, we cannot tell when we will finish,” he said.
Commenting on the controversy, veteran columnist Mahmoud Jega said the situation was reminiscent of 1993 when the Federal Government under Gen. Ibrahim Babangida described a similar pact with ASUU as “valid but not binding.”
“With the present face-off, we are back to where we were 32 years ago. God help Nigerian students and their parents,” Jega said.
The 2009 ASUU-FG agreement covered funding of universities, earned academic allowances, improved conditions of service, university autonomy, and legislative amendments, with a clause for periodic renegotiation.
