The university associations' and Federal Government renegotiation council sitting will end today.
The PUNCH revealed that the Federal Government on March 7, 2022, introduced a seven-man council entrusted with the renegotiation of the 2009 understanding came to with the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the other three associations including, The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and The National Association of Academic Technologists.
The advisory group which was led by Pro-Chancellor, Alex Ekweme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Emeritus Professor Nimi Briggs was given three months to finish up the renegotiation with ASUU and different associations.
As per ASUU and SSANU public presidents, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke and Mr Mohammed Ibrahim individually, the Briggs council has been meeting with the different associations since May 2022 to rethink their arrangements.
Osodeke told our reporter ''There is progress yet it relies upon the government side. We had a genuinely decent gathering we are as yet attempting to determine the issues.
"Until we get the last report from the government. We are attempting to work in a similar bearing. They are additionally trying UTAS.''
It is accepted that the board of trustees would present its report to the FG this week or they could be given an expansion.
The Committee, as would be considered normal to survey the draft proposed FGN/ASUU Agreement, has the accompanying Terms of Reference, liaise and talk with pertinent partners to finish the place of the Federal Government to the issues in the draft proposed FGN/ASUU Renegotiated Agreement; rework in reasonable and functional terms the 2009 Agreements with other University-Based Unions; arrange and suggest some other issue the Committee considers applicable to reposition the NUC for worldwide seriousness; and submit proposed draft arrangements in no less than 90 days from the date of introduction.
In like manner, every one of the associations are as of now protesting over neglected requests of the 2009 concurrences with the associations.
ASUU started its continuous strike on February 14, 2022, after the Federal Government neglected to fulfill a portion of its needs including, the arrival of revitalisation assets for colleges, renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU understanding, arrival of procured remittances for university speakers, and sending of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution.
SSANU's hit began with an advance notice strike of about fourteen days which started on March 27, 2021, while the expansion of an additional fourteen days initiated on Sunday April 10, 2022. It is progressing, having being accounted for that it has been reached out by a month.
A portion of the requests of SSANU incorporate the conflicting issue of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, neglected procured recompenses, and postpone in the renegotiation of FGN, NASU, SSANU arrangements, and non-installment of the lowest pay permitted by law unpaid debts.
Others incorporate disregard and unfortunate subsidizing of state colleges, non-installment of retirement advantages to active individuals from the associations, and usurpation of the headship of non-showing units in clear infringement of states of administration and foundation procedures, among others.
Different individuals from the Briggs panel are Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Wukari, Arc. Lawrence Patrick Ngbale, who addresses North East; Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Birnin Kebbi, Prof. Funmi Togunu-Bickersteth, addressing South West and Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Lokoja, Senator Chris Adighije, addressing South East.
Likewise in the group are Pro-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Prof. Olu Obafemi from North-Central; Pro-Chancellor, Kano State University of Science and Technology, Prof. Zubairu Iliyasu, addressing North West; and Pro-Chancellor, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Mathew Seiyefa from South.