ASUU Strike: FG sets up new team to renegotiate 2009 agreement

The Federal Government has reconstituted a team to renegotiate the 2009 agreement it had with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

A statement by the Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Bem Goong, said the new renegotiation team is headed by Prof. Emeritus Nimi Briggs, the Pro-Chancellor, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo.

Reconstituting the team, the minister of education, Adamu Adamu said: “There is need to speedily bring to a conclusion, all outstanding issues in the 2009 agreement in order to achieve the desired industrial peace on our campuses.”

Members of the reconstituted 2009 FGN/University-Based Unions Agreements Re-negotiation Team are:

“Lawrence Patrick Ngbale (Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Wukari) – Member (North East), Prof. Funmi Togunu-Bickersteth (Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Birnin Kebbi) -Member (South West), Sen. Chris Adighije- (Pro-Chancellor, Federal University. Lokoja -Member (South East).

Others are; “Prof. Olu Obafemi (Pro-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Minna) – Member (North-Central), Prof. Zubairu Iliyasu (Pro-Chancellor, Kano State University of Science & Technology) – Member (North West) and Barr. Matthew B. Seiyefa, mni-(Pro-Chancellor, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island) – Member (South-South).

The statement further said the team will be inaugurated by the Minister on Monday, the 7th of March, 2022 at the Minister’s Conference room, headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja by 12 noon.

“All advisers and observers in the Federal Government/University-based Unions 2009 agreements Re-negotiation Team are expected to attend the inauguration,” it added.

The 2009 agreement reached with the Union included conditions of service for university lecturers, funding of universities, university autonomy and academic freedom, and was an adaptation of an earlier agreement reached in 2001. (The Guardian)