The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has challenged the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, to mention any of the things done by the Federal Government to bring to an end the ongoing strike embarked upon by the union or the amount of money released so far since the industrial action started.
The reaction by the union follows a recent interview granted by Keyamo where he said the Federal Government cannot go and borrow N1.2 trillion yearly to meet the financial demands of ASUU, saying the government had done all within its power to end the strike.
According to Punch, the feelings of ASUU was made known by its National President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, during an interview where he expressed disappointment at the claims of the minister.
Osodeke, who revealed that the Federal Government has not released one kobo since the commencement of the strike, accused Keyamo of completely misinforming the public.
What the ASUU President is saying
Osodeke during the interview said, “When I listened to him yesterday, I felt very disappointed. We are in a country where someone who has risen in the legal profession can come out to completely misinform the public. It is so sad and I feel so pained.
“We are challenging him to mention one of the things the government has done on all the issues that led to the strike. How much has been released for the revitalisation fund for universities? How much has been released for the payment of the earned academic allowances? Has the visitation panel report been released? This is a demand that does not even have to do with money.’’
Going further the ASUU President said, “Have they signed the agreement that was negotiated between their team and ASUU? On the issue of IPPIS and UTAS, have the results been made available? These are the questions Nigerians have to ask them. The demands that don’t have to do with money, have they met those demands?
“I am so disappointed. This is someone who was on the street fighting for the poor Nigerians until he joined politics. This same man has turned around to fight the Nigerian people. We challenge him to tell the Nigerian people what the government has done concerning the seven demands that were listed. It is so sad, and that is why Nigeria is where it is today.
“These people do not have the interest of Nigerians at heart. Nigeria is battling all manner of things. Insecurity, education is on lockdown. They have not released one kobo, I’m saying this with all due respect. The government has not released one kobo to any university since the strike started, but you are giving N1.14 billion worth of vehicles to government officials in the Niger Republic.
“You know why they don’t believe in Nigerians. If their children were to be in our schools, they would have done something”.
What you should know
- Recall that on Friday, August 5, 2022, Keyamo while appearing on a Channels Television programme, Politics Today, said it was unrealistic for the Federal Government to borrow N1.2 trillion in order to end the almost 6 months strike embarked upon by ASUU.
- He said, “Should we go and borrow to pay N1.2 trillion yearly?
- “You cannot allow one sector of the economy to hold you by the jugular and then blackmail you to go and borrow N1.2 trillion for overheads when our total income would be about N6.1 trillion. And you have roads to build, health centres to build, other sectors to take care of.”
- ASUU had on February 14, 2022, embarked on a 4-week total and comprehensive strike to press home their unresolved demands on the federal government.
- Some of the lecturers’ demands include funding for the revitalisation of public universities, payment of earned academic allowances, and adoption of the University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) as a preferred payment option, instead of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and payment of promotion arrears.
- Others are the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement and the resolution of inconsistencies in the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
- ASUU on May 9, further extended its ongoing strike by another 12 weeks to give the government enough time to satisfactorily resolve all the outstanding issues after an extension on March 14 due to an alleged lack of seriousness on the part of the federal government.
- President Muhammadu Buhari had on July 19 directed the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, to proffer a solution to the challenge and report back to him in 2 weeks.
- However, ASUU remained adamant in its resolve to press on with its demand as it once again on August 1 extended its ongoing strike by another 4 weeks to give the Federal Government more time to resolve outstanding issues in its dispute with it
I will say this strike is nothing but happiness to ASUU .. Knowing fully well that the future of the students are at stake but then they still feel comfortable making such an outrageous demand
It’s unfair and bad for people to only think of themselves at times .. they all have their children studying in private school and also side business why should they think it’s okay to make the less privileged stay home .. the economy of the country is quite bag especially the money circulation .. how do you expect the govt to remove that ridiculous amount just to attend to a sector in the country so other sector could lag behind .. I hope God help us here oh
I can understand your sentiments Moremi but thought you may want to look at things from a different perspective:
1. ASUU’s “financial settlement demand” in specific terms isn’t outrageous although the implications to students and the lingering economic impact is deemed enormous from an effective resource planning and allocation point of view meeting the required obligations for public and private sectors.
2. ASUU will continue to fight the way they know which may seems unfair, selfish and less creative to say the least but we are asking that representatives and members consider and explore in agreement with government alternatives earlier specified in my post below. Do let me know what you think.
I do recall that according to a world bank report that over 94% of the total revenues generated in the country is expended settling debt corresponding to subsidies which is estimated to continue through 2026 and may continue provided the proportionate spend on subsidy linked to the country’s consumption rate remains the same. Putting it in perspective and suppose there are no changes, if we take =N=6.1trillion referenced in the aforementioned publication is indeed the “country’s total revenue” this means only ≤ 6% will be available for programme execution where100% of the ≤ 6% is the retained value to meet the country’s execution requirements.
So in view of the preceding, i will like to recommend that whilst negotiation and consultation is ongoing with the relevant stakeholders across all government parastals and other interest groups, I’ll suggest that ASUU working with representatives of the affected Universities within public and private sphere through all forms of strategic alliances negotiate and explore means to generate and fund itself temporarily through internally generated revenues pending a time where a concrete resolution perpetuated by a “compelling Year on Year revenue actuals against projections” is agreed amongst stakeholders and signed into law,
the negotiations should be made public. live streaming….
Fair comment! i agree that outputs of the agreements should be made public.
Some aspect of the recommendation may lead into extensive procurement activities which may appear boring to the public unnecessary resource implications if live streamed in whole.
Most recovery companies will take your money again. I personally think they are the same set of people that run all of them, seems like an unending cycle and its too sad. The most crazy thing about the whole internet thing is how you can clone a website to make it look like the real one, I discovered so many people fell into this kind of scams. The only recovery company I know that works is Walletconnect @ usa. com I have been to their physical address to meet them before and the good thing about them is that they will let you know if they can handle your case or not. So they will not just take your money when they already know they wont help you out.
Interesting perspective Rashwan although i do not see in the immediate how your response aligns or helps in providing resolutions to the ongoing ASUU negotiation with the government except I’m thinking differently. But from a cyber security point of view, let me try and address your concerns in the following ways:
1. Cybersecurity is an option to consider when setting up an internet based service as a provider but users must look out for a “seal of authentication” validating the authenticity of the website which may mean looking out for the online registered certificates – do not confuse this with the company registration with the appropriate authorities (the Corporate Affairs Commission if the business is registered in Nigeria).
2. For consistent value and user protection supporting the aforementioned, it is recommended that government through the corporate affairs commission (CAC) if not already in place, facilitate the enactment of laws creating a direct link between the business and domain name registration where the former is confirmed and made a prerequisite before the latter.
3. As legitimate and registered business owners do not have absolute control on the UI/UX designs and the name of the “cloned company or domains with corresponding page designs especially where the point 2 above is compromised”, so also should the users ensure that the domain ID accessed is as communicated and protected by the provider. In other words, any “fake provider” could clone by registering a domain without necessarily registering the business in accordance with CAC procedures.
4. Ensure you set-up your second level passwords across all platforms where the option is made available and where not, keep pushing for it with the provider.
5. For wallets based implementations built on any platform (blockchain inclusive) supporting all forms of ecommerce intent, it is good practice ensuring that pass or secret phrases are built at generic levels and in some cases transactional for customer, business and regulatory comfort to . Whilst meeting CBN’s anti-money laundering objectives, i am as well positive that providers wouldn’t want to compromise or subject its business and customers to any form of risk.
the federal government under Buhari administration and his team are not serious and are anti-progress of the common men’s, their actions towards handling the universities based unions has critically shown that this country is not more a case to consider .I therefore, called on the leadership of SANNU, NASU & NAT to please humbly dissociate themselves from another set of selfish and sentimental peoples ie ASUU in order to consider the fate of their members to call off their own strike to please get back to their normal duties, because it seems as if we’re helping the asuu agitation and nothing in return at the end of this journey because asuu didn’t in any ramifications considered us as their counterparts so please live them alone let us get back to our normal duties. pleaseeeeeee
I agree and understand with your sentiments, let everyone get back to work but most importantly continue to find, negotiate and explore every means possible through all forms of strategic alliances and integration with public and private sector organization and student involvement to generate “own funds” as a temporarily measure pending a time where concrete resolutions perpetuated by a “compelling Year on Year revenue actuals against projections” is agreed amongst stakeholders and signed into law. This alternative ensure operational continuity of the institutions whilst at the same time fosters the continued livelihood and development of all parties involved in the short, medium and if a permanent resolution is reached maybe long term.
Correspondingly, ASUU has to continue to push it’s agenda within realistic and economic constraints and in the best interest of the majority of the participating members including stakeholder representatives in SANNU, NASU & NAT.
You may want to review further details of my responses to all the posts.
Its this separatist approach that has caused some of th problems in the University system. What duties will other union members perform without the main union ASUU? Let all the unions have a single harmonised set of demands and put all hands on deck, by that i think better results can be achieved.
Not sure i understand what your point is exactly but i’m of the opinion that all effort should be geared towards a collaborative one within the context specified in all my responses. You may want to go through them once more.
Hmmm I think Asuu should please call off this strike. Knowing fully that the Federal government will never agree to their demand.. Their children are schooling abroad so even if ASUU extends. the strike it means nothing to them. Nigeria education system is hitting a dead end