FG and ASUU in fresh disagreement

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has criticized tha Federal Government for the slow implementation of the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding on the NEEDS projects in the universities. The union also condemned the sacking of over 90 employees of the Cocoa Research Institute in Ibadan, Oyo State, calling on the Federal Government and the masses to take action against the intimidation and injustice on the workers.

ASUU's National Treasurer, Dr. Ademola Aremu described the attitude of the Federal Government towards implementing the agreement wa disturbing. He said the government was yet to allocate the funds for execution of the NEEDS project in the universities noting that part of the agreement reached before the strike action was suspended was that the Federal Government would release N20 billion at the beginning of each quarter for implementation of the NEEDS assessment carried on universities. Aremu lamented that “this is February and the government is yet to release the money for the quarter”.

He accused the Federal Government of not being sincere with its part of the the agreement thereby needlessly shutting down the universities.

“All the strikes ASUU had embarked upon in this country were basically because the FG has failed to honour agreements freely entered to with us.

“It is also sad that before we begin each of those strikes, we would give the government enough warnings and grace to make them retrace their steps, but they always fail.

“We don’t know why the government is always unwilling to implement the documents signed by their representatives. However, we will continue to fight for the system because if the system collapses we will collapse with it,” He said.

In a swift reaction to the allegations by ASUU, the Federal Government denied that it has neglected the Memorandum of Understanding reached with the Union. Simeon Nwakaudu, the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, told The Punch that “It is not true. Federal government is following the implementation of the agreement and ASUU is part of the implementation monitoring committee.

“Funds are with the universities; it is not ASUU that is implementing it. The monies are paid to the respective universities which are implementing the agreement.

“The universities are doing their procurement now for funds that have been released. When they conclude their procurement, the next tranche will be released.”