The meeting between the Federal government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Thursday again ended with promises.
Recall that earlier in the week, the Nigerian Senate through its leadership waded into the ASUU-FG face-off over IPPIS by having a meeting with ASUU leadership.
That led to the latest meeting held between ASUU and the FG through the Ministry of Labour and Employment headed by Sen. Chris Ngige.
Did they reach any agreement at the meeting?
The Federal government agreed to pay ₦30 billion in earned academic allowances (EAA) to ASUU. The EEA was one of the issues of contention.
However, the government says it will pay the EEA in two portions (twice) between May 2021 and February 2022.
The earned academic allowance, TalkScholarship learned, is part of the 2009 ASUU-FG agreement the union has so far accused the government of not honouring.
TalkScholarship learned that the federal government also promised to spend ₦20 billion to improve infrastructure in public universities. Which of course was another issue of contention.
Those were the concrete agreements reached at the meeting that lasted nearly 6 hours on Thursday night.
What again did the Federal Government say?
Meanwhile, the government yesterday said that the ASUU strike is fuelling the notorious #EndSARS protest currently grinding activities in several parts of the country.
According to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, students are being drafted into the EndSARS protests because they’re at home.
Adding that he hopes the strike is called off soon.
What about IPPIS?
The Federal government says it has not replaced IPPIS with UTAS contrary to reports from some media. It added that its only testing UTAS being a responsible government.
However, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) remain firm on UTAS. The union added that it will not be blackmailed into putting rights of lecturers and students in jeopardy.
Recall that the federal government had commenced testing the Universities Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) payment platform developed by ASUU.
According to the government, UTAS is a home-grown content and are open to adopting the payment platform if it passes integrity test which its currently undergoing.
Also, the government officials revealed that a team from Office of the Accountant General of the Federation will storm various campuses from Monday 19th October to register academic staff for IPPIS.
Though ASUU has directed its members to stay away from campuses when the federal government team arrives.
In a letter by ASUU president to the various ASUU chapters sighted by TalkScholarship, “All ASUU members should stay away from anything related to IPPIS” in order not to jeopardize the current struggle.
What is ASUU’s conclusion?
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says it will take the government’s offer back to its members and get to the government on their position by Wednesday 21st October, 2020.
What about NASU and SSANU?
The non-teaching staff of Nigerian universities comprised of Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) yesterday faulted ASUU for insisting on IPPIS.
This, according to senior officials of the unions amount to telling the government how they should be paid.
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Recall that NASU and SSANU had embarked on two weeks warning strike on Monday 5th October over the Federal government’s refusal to honour agreements entered with the union.
The warning strike ends on Friday 16th October, 2020 (today) and are expected to be back on campus from Monday 19th October, 2020.
Will NASU and SSANU go on strike again?
There are indications that the issues between the non-teaching staff and the federal government are far from over.
This is as senior officials of the two unions told Vanguard reporters that NASU and SSANU will also develop their own payment platform if the Federal government considers ASUU’s UTAS.
What is NANS doing?
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has so far being a shadow of itself. A wave of petitions, impeachment, arguments and counter-arguments has so far rocked the once revered association.
Meanwhile, Nigerian students from various universities have taken to the streets to protest continued closure of universities due to ASUU strike.
This is as students of Benue State University (BSU) and Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi (FUAM) jointly protested the prolonged ASUU strike in Makurdi on Tuesday.
And there are also indications that students of the prestigious University of Calabar (UNICAL) and Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) will have a peaceful protest in Calabar on Monday 19th October.
Any hope for resumption?
The federal government and her striking unions are already making progress in a bid to end the lingering strikes. Though the progress have been slow.
Is school still opening this year?
With the next meeting between ASUU and Federal govt expected to hold on Wednesday 21st October, 2020, Nigerian students can only look forward to at least another week of uncertainty.
Tensions are high, so are expectations.
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What do you think about the current ASUU strike? Should school resume this year or next year?
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Maxwell is a Dietitian with passion for showing people hope. With nearly a decade experience helping people make key decisions on education and career, you can find him almost everywhere on this site. From answering admission and scholarship questions to creating tutorials and helping others live their best lives though nutrition. Connect with me on Twitter.