Pro-Chancellors, Vice-Chancellors propose a middle ground to resolve issues
The ongoing industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) has entered its seventh month.
Recall that the union, embarked on strike February 14, 2022, following what it described as the failure of the government to keep to the 2019 agreement.
Meanwhile, the president of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke has met with the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Pro-Chancellors of Universities on Wednesday 14 September 2022 over the prolonged strike.
According to news reports the peace team comprises of Former Vice-Chancellors and Pro-Chancellors such as the former Pro-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Senator Nkechi Nwagogu; former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, Prof J.D. Amin; and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Emeritus Professor A.O. Bamiro, among others.
A source familiar with the matter, who choose to remain anonymous said, “The meeting was originally proposed by the peace team that was set up by the committee of Vice-Chancellors.
“The meeting was held at the National Universities Commission(NUC), and all the pending issues were raised, the issue of funding, that is, the release of the revitalisation fund, the withheld salaries, adjustment of salaries and most importantly ending strikes permanently in universities.”
When asked if the union accepted the demands, the source said, “It was not a negotiation meeting; the VCs and the Pro-chancellors are not from the government’s side; to me, they just came to share their opinions on the matter.”
Reacting to the lawsuit, former Vice-Chancellors, in a statement hailed the Federal Government for approaching the National Industrial Court in a bid to end the strike.
The statement partly read, “We are aware that the Federal Government has sought a legal interpretation of the nature and character of the dispute as a way of breaking the deadlock.
“This is novel, and we applaud the move as civilised, however, both parties will faithfully abide by the provisions of Industrial Arbitration as enshrined in the International Labour Organisation Conventions.”
They proposed a middle ground where the government can resolve the trust issues by taking action to propose to the National Assembly its decision to improve on funding education.
Source: punchng
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