The Federal Government has inaugurated a ‘Reconstituted 2009 Federal Government Re-negotiated Team with University-Based Staff’ for the purposes of streamlining the provisions of the old and pending agreements between it and the tertiary institutions’ team to enhance efficiency in the schools’ administration
The new 53-member committee, which is the fourth to be constituted by the government since the year 2017, has the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Pro-Chancellor Ahmad Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Mahmud Yayale Ahmed as the Chairman with 52 other members, including the ASUU President, Osodeke Victor Emmanuel.
Inaugurating the committee on Tuesday, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, charged the members to do everything to resolve the issues in the education sector as President Bola Tinubu is committed to ensuring stability in the sector and transforming Nigerian universities into leading tertiary institutions in the global space.
While recalling that the past agreements could not be implemented due to the complexities of the provisions and failure by the parties to concede their grounds, the minister urged the committee to carry out the assignment and come out with a workable agreement within the next three months.
He said: “We are all stakeholders in the Nigeria business. I see the unions as our colleagues and brothers. The President is very happy we have stability in the education sector.
“So basically, it is our hope and expectation that we will have agreement in the shortest possible time, say three months from now.
“I’ve given the assurances of the President’s support and cooperation in the course of this national assignment”, he added.
While urging the reconstituted committee to intensify efforts on the assignment, Mamman expressed optimism that the outcome will be realistic and workable agreements that will address the challenges facing Nigerian universities and strongly position them to effectively contribute their quota to national development.
He expatiated: “In the composition of this important committee, we have members who are exceptionally experienced in university matters and beyond.
“There are officials appointed from other relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to serve as advisors or observers on the committee, bringing in valuable information to ensure transparency in the process.
“You may recall that the renegotiation of the 2009 agreements between the Federal Government and the university-based staff unions (ASUU, NAAT, SSANU, and NASU) commenced on Monday, February 13, 2017.
“Regrettably, this process has lingered due to a number of unforeseen circumstances. However, it is important to note that the immediate past leadership of the Renegotiation Committee under Professor Nimi Briggs produced a draft report covering significant areas that can serve as a foundation for concluding the exercise,” the minister added.
In his remarks, the chairman of the committee appealed to the Federal Government to be sincere in the new negotiation efforts, promising that the members of the committee will do their best to ensure that their recommendations will address the lingering challenges in the university system.
He assured: “On behalf of the committee, I will like to assure you and the President of our commitment to do this job thoroughly. We are here for a continuous service to the nation.
“We are committed and will deliver by the grace of Allah. We are doing it on your behalf and when we come, you should listen to us. Don’t frustrate us”, Ahmed added
He also advised the leaderships of the ASUU and other unions to base their demands on national interest to create opportunities for job creation and empowerment for university graduates across all sectors of the economy and the public service.
It would be recalled that the three past committees were led by Wale Babalakin in 2017, Munzali Jubril in 2020, and Nimi Briggs in 2022.
Key among the universities unions’ past demands included the release of revitalisation fund for universities; the release of earned allowances for lecturers, deployment of the University Transparency Accountability System for the payment of salaries and allowances of university lecturers, end to the establishment of new universities by the Federal Government, and renegotiation of the ASUU-FGN 2009 agreement, among others.
