Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
The intervention of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila over the impending industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) paid off yesterday as the lecturers decided to shelve the planned strike.
ASUU recently threatened to embark on an industrial action, over what it described as the failure of the federal government to implement some part of the agreement entered into by the two parties.
It was based on this that Gbajabiamila called for a meeting between the Ministers of Finance, Budget and National Planning and Education as well as representatives of ASUU.
At the meeting held at the National Assembly complex, which was attended by all parties involved, the Speaker was able to broker a truce with the federal government and ASUU.
The meeting was able to reach a compromise and agreed on four major contending issues.
The government representatives also agreed to make available within one week, the payment of N30 billion University Revitalisation fund.
Gbajabiamila stated: “It will be irresponsible of us, as leaders, to sit and watch things deteriorate. We have to be mindful of the unintended consequences of this planned strike action that can be far-reaching, knowing how important education is to the children and the future of our country.
“Whatever the issues, strikes cannot continue to be a perennial exercise. Strikes cannot be the tool we use at all times, but only when things finally break down. On the other hand, the government should also not go into agreements it cannot honour.
“While everybody has an equal share of the blame, how to resolve the issue is the most important and that is why we are here.”
It was also agreed at the meeting that the federal government would sort out the N22 billion Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) component from the education sector budget.
The tripartite meeting also agreed that the renegotiation of the 2009 N1.3 trillion agreement between the ASUU and federal government would commence in the next one week.
The federal government pointed out that it was not averse to the deployment of the proposed alternative payment platform, University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) developed by ASUU as opposed to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
Also, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed informed the Speaker that the government was waiting for the report of the Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) before the next step would be taken.
Ahmed and the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, revealed that the government was on the verge of releasing funds for the Revitalization of Universities as well as the EAA.
Earlier, ASUU President, Prof. Victor Osodeke said some of the issues in contention had been resolved.
He stressed that the Union had to call for strike action due to the tradition of reneging on agreements by the federal government.
Gbajabiamila however implored the Union to have fate in the promise made by the two minsters.
He added: “It will be the best for ASUU to please step down the impending strike since there’s no issue that has been left unresolved.
“The renegotiation of the N200 billion tranche of the initial agreement of N1.3 trillion will commence next week Thursday with the House Committees on Education, as well as Information and Communication Technology fully involved.”
