Introduction: Following two
meetings (on Thursday
19th Sept 2013 and Friday
11th Oct 2013) of
representatives
of the AVCNU (Association
of Vice-Chancellors of
Nigerian
Universities, led by CVC
Chairman, Prof. Hamisu of
ATBU)
and ASUU Representatives
(led by its President, Dr.
Fagge)
with the Vice-President of
the Federal Republic of
Nigeria,
Arc. N. Sambo, Minister of
Education Barr. N. Wike and
others, all Vice-Chancellors
have been urged to inform
and
enlighten academic and
other staff on the following
developments so that we
can ensure a return to
normalcy in
our universities within the
shortest possible time.
Earned Allowances: The
N30 billion already released
will
now be increased to N40
billion, and should be
regarded only as first
installment, and not a once-
and-for-all payment.
Government will top it up
with further releases once
universities are through
with the disbursement of
this new
figure of N40 million, so
Vice-Chancellors are urged
to
expedite this disbursement
within the shortest possible
time using guiding
templates that have been
sent by the CVC.
2. NEEDS Assessment
Capital Money: Government
was
cognizant and mindful of
the ability of Universities to
effectively/efficiently utilize
the N100 billion fund
immediately, hence that
figure. However, in addition
to
this N100 billion dedicated
and already to be made
available for 2013, N200
billion (increased from N150
billion previously agreed)
will now be earmarked in
the 2014 Budget as well as
each of the following three-
four years until the
Universities are brought to
world-class standard.
3. Project Prioritization:
Universities will now be
allowed
to determine their priorities
and not be “rail-roaded”
into
implementing a pre-
determined set of projects
with respect to the NEEDS
assessment. Decisions are
not to be centralized.
4. TETFund Intervention:
Government assured that
the
operations of the TETFund
will not be impaired, and
that the regular TETFund
intervention disbursement
to Universities will continue,
unaffected. So the NEEDS
assessment capital outlays
are in addition to regular
TETFund intervention.
5. IMC: A new
Implementation Monitoring
Committee
(IMC) for the NEEDs
ASSESSMENT intervention
for
universities has been set up
to take over from the
Suswan
Committee. The new one is
under the Federal Ministry
of
Education and chaired by
the Honorable Minister of
Education. In addition, to
build confidence and ensure
faithful implementation and
prevent any relapse as
before, the Vice President
will meet quarterly with the
IMC to monitor progress.
6. Blueprint: ASUU was
mandated to submit a blue
print
for revitalizing the
Universities to the Vice
President.
7. Official Agreement
Document: A signed
document
would be issued very soon
to itemize the full issues on
which this present
consensus outlined here,
brokered by AVCNU, has
been reached.
8. An Appeal to Call Off
Strike: The Vice-President
Sambo appealed to ASUU
to call off the strike and
apologized for the "take-it-
or-leave-it" comments
credited to the Hon Minister
of Finance. All other parties
present at the meetings
also prevailed on the ASUU
leadership to consult
objectively with its
members to get them to
agree with what is now on
the table and to call off the
strike as soon as possible
after the Sallah break of
Tuesday/Wednesday
October 15/16 2013.
9. ASUU President
Responds: At both
meetings, the President of
ASUU thanked the VP for
taking over
negotiations and promised
to consult with his ASUU
Constituency.
We keep our fingers firmly
crossed, as we await both
the
official consensus
agreement document and
full ASUU
reaction. Statesmanship
from all sides is called for at
this point in time.
Signed:
Prof. Mobolaji E. Aluko
Vice-Chancellor
Federal University Otuoke.
This sounds encouraging,
and we don't think ASUU
will reject this new
negotiation. Let's see what
happens next
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