Unless something changes, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is ready to accept the new salary increase offered by the Federal Government. This information came from a document signed by ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, in Abuja on Monday.
Earlier, The PUNCH reported that the government had offered a 40% salary increase during negotiations with the committee led by Yayale Ahmed.
According to the document, ASUU decided to accept the offer because the government refused to change its position, and the union did not want salaries to remain stagnant after many years of failed discussions.
Both ASUU and the government also agreed that the agreement should be reviewed every three years.
People close to the meeting told The PUNCH that both sides agreed that universities should have full autonomy. The government also agreed that earned academic allowances would be fixed at 12% of each university’s total salaries and wages for academic staff.
This means that when universities prepare their yearly budget for salaries, they will receive an extra 12% for earned allowances.
The most recent negotiation started on Monday, November 24, and ended on Tuesday, November 25. The meeting was part of government efforts to stop ASUU from going on a nationwide strike after its one-month warning expired.
However, before ASUU officially replies the government and signs the agreement, each branch must brief its members.
In the document, Piwuna said:
“The government made several offers, but many were not good enough and were rejected. After pressure from our negotiators, the government offered a new salary structure that was close to the earlier recommendation by the Nimi Briggs Committee. Some levels will earn a bit more, others a bit less. NEC agreed it is better to accept it than continue rejecting and allow salaries to remain stagnant.”
He also explained the allowance agreement:
“The earned academic allowance will be 12% of academic salaries and will come through budgetary allocation, just as some state universities already do.”
Regarding appointments, the document stated:
- Governing Council members must be appointed according to university laws.
- Governing Councils should exercise powers legally given to them.
- Vice-Chancellors must be chosen strictly based on merit.
- Selecting only people from the university host community should not be allowed.
ASUU’s one-month deadline to the government expired last week, creating tension in universities. The union had threatened a national strike due to the government’s failure to:
- review the 2009 ASUU-FG agreement
- pay outstanding salaries and allowances
- release funds to improve universities
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who is currently outside the country, earlier said the government had already fulfilled the union’s demands. He also stated that the President ordered that there must be no strike in public universities.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has shown support for ASUU and said it may step in if the government does not meet the union’s expectations.
