Federal Government, yesterday, inaugurated a seven-man committee to renegotiate the agreements it had with university-based unions, notably, ASUU, NAAT, SSANU and NASU, in 2009.
The Committee chaired by former Head of Service of the Federation (HoSF), Yayale Ahmed, is expected to review the draft proposed agreements with the various university-based unions.
Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, who inaugurated the Committee in Abuja, said the move became necessary following the expiration of the time of the previous committee, and the need to keep discussion on, to avoid breakdown of understanding that could result in industrial disharmony.
The minister said the committee, as part of its terms of reference, will liaise and consult with relevant stakeholders to guide the position of the Federal Government on the issues in the draft proposed FGN/university-based unions renegotiated agreements; renegotiate in realistic and workable terms, the 2009 agreement with other university-based unions.
“The Committee is also expected to negotiate and recommend any other issue it deems relevant to reposition the Nigerian University System (NUS) for global competitiveness; and submit proposed draft agreements within three months from the date of inauguration.”
The minister confirmed that the previous committees made significant progress, adding that some of their recommendations, which are being implemented, have helped to maintain industrial and academic peace in the universities.
“In the composition of the Committee, we have the chairman (Alhaji Yayale Ahmed) and members of this Committee, who are exceptionally experienced both in University and other matters. There are other officials appointed from other relevant Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) to serve as Advisers or Observers on the Committee, that will bring in peculiar information and make the work transparent.”
The minister expressed no reservation that the Committee would discharge the assignment with the seriousness and the urgency it deserves. “This is more so, considering the need to sustain the relative peace and harmony on our campuses.”
He appealed to the Committee to double its effort to conclude the assignment and produce a realistic and workable agreement that would holistically tackle the challenges confronting the Nigerian University System (NUS), and reposition it to effectively play its very important role in national development.
He assured the Committee of the Federal Government’s support and cooperation in the course of the important national assignment. In addition, the Committee is to be further guided by the Ag. Executive Secretary, NUC, Chris Maiyaki, going forward on matters of the renegotiation exercise.
ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, thanked the Federal Government for the gesture, and appealed to the Committee to be dedicated and committed to the task.
“This should not be like the previous committees that displayed some form of unseriousness to the task.
Yayale promised that they would work collectively to ensure workable Agreements that would guarantee peace, harmony and progress in the tertiary Institutions.
“It won’t be a case ‘Us versus Them’. Education is the bedrock of development of any society, and as a result, we won’t like anything that would result in academic disruption in the institutions.”
