*Summons Pro Chancellors, VCs to crucial meeting
*As Govs pledge to respect FG deal with ASUU
By Ezeocha Nzeh
Despite the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), indications emerged Tuesday that the Federal Government is set to reopen the universities.
The over six months strike, which commenced in February, following disagreement with federal government and ASUU on a number of issues affecting the lecturers remuneration and upgrade of education standards in the universities, was turned into an indefinite strike, after he National executive Council (NEC) of ASUU met on Sunday.
ASUU had in a statement issued Monday, announced the indefinite strike, blamed the federal government, represented by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, his Labour and Employment counterpart, Dr Chris Ngige, as well as the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo for reneging on the earlier agreements, as well as feeding the general public with wrong information about the reasons for the ongoing strike
It would be recalled that ASUU had at its last meeting with the Federal government, rejected its “No Work No Pay” position as the government said it would not pay the lecturers for the months they were on strike
Federal Ministry of Education sources which confirmed the move, said the decision to reopen the universities was based on the resolve that the academic staff are not the only set of workers in the university system adding that since non-academic staff are ready to go back to work, the universities should no longer be shut.
“Moreover, there are some lecturers who are also ready to work, such people should not be shut out.
“Only few days ago, a group addressed the press in Abuja, saying they are not part of the ASUU trouble. Their group is also working to be registered too.
“Non-teaching staff have also called off their strike and the university environment is not only for or about academic staff.
“Why should those who are ready to work be denied the opportunity to work? He asked.
Determined to call ASUU’s bluff and reopen the universities, the Ministry of Education has invited all pro-chancellors and vice-chancellors of federal universities for a meeting with the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, which is slated for next Tuesday at the National Universities Commission, NUC, Complex, Abuja.
The inviting letter, marked NUC/ES/138/VOL. 64/125, which was signed by the Deputy Executive Secretary, Administration, Chris Maiyaki, on behalf of the Executive Secretary, titled “Industrial Actions by University-based Unions: Invitation to a special interactive meeting with the Honourable Minister of Education.”
It read in part: “As the pro-chancellors and the chairmen of councils and the vice-chancellors are quite aware, the industrial action by university-based unions has led to the closure of the institutions since February 14, 2022.
“You are also aware that the non-teaching unions have suspended their industrial actions with effect from 24th August, 2022, while a final decision is being awaited from the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
“It has become necessary for the Governing Councils and the managements of the universities to be briefed on the decisions and actions taken by the Federal Government so far, to allow for a well-coordinated review of the situation, including building consensus around succeeding actions.”
It was gathered that the government would use the occasion of the planned meeting to order the Governing Council and Vice Chancellors of universities to reopen schools and allow workers ready to work come back to their duty posts.
This position it was further gathered came as a group of lecturers, on the platform of the Congress of University Academics, CONUA, led by Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, have dissociated themselves from the strike and said they are willing to resume work.
This is as the managements of some state universities are also taking steps to ensure the reopening of the institutions.
Meanwhile Governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have pledged to accept and implement any agreement the federal government would reach with ASUU to end the lingering strike
The Progressives Governors gave the assurance when they met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Tuesday in Abuja
“We note the pronouncement of ASUU. We recall the appeal of the President to ASUU while we were visiting Daura, that they should consider the future of students.
“We will not dwell on that now. We are ready to accept any negotiations for resolution,’’ PGF chairman, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state said.
