Following recent agitations by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo stated that the Federal Government intends to revisit university autonomy regulations.
This comes only weeks after ASUU called off an eight-month strike in which its members demanded, among other things, enhanced welfare, the revitalization of public universities, and academic autonomy.
Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, represented Osinbajo at an event in Abuja organized by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to commemorate the NUC’s 60th anniversary and the unveiling of the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CIMAS).
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According to the vice president, one of the greatest concerns afflicting university education in Nigeria is the ongoing strike action by various unions in public universities.
“The most recent strike actions by the university-based unions have necessitated a revisit on the issues and scope of university autonomy by government,” he said.
“This will lead to a review of the university autonomy laws to appropriately address funding, including staff remuneration, institutional governance, and administration, as well as issues relating to internally generated revenue.”
According to him, the university system has cumulatively lost over 50 months from 1999 to date as a result of strike actions by ASUU.
“I doubt if there is any country that has lost such amount of time to strikes in its university system.
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“From the first strike in 1978 to date, all the issues have remained the same. The agitations have been primarily on funding, university autonomy, and remunerations.
“I need to stress here that government alone cannot fund education in the country. It is therefore imperative that a sustainable model of funding university education must be developed,” he said.
ASUU members protesting withholding salaries at the University of Abuja Mini Campus on Friday, November 25, 2022, as part of an eight-month strike.
Osinbajo praised the NUC for its vision in unbundling disciplines like as agriculture, as well as the establishment of three new disciplines, namely Allied Health Sciences, Architecture and Communication, and Media Studies.
He predicted that the launch of CIMAS would usher in a new era of quality and relevant content delivery.
NEWS FLASH: ASUU Receives Full Pay For November, But Arrears Not Paid
For the majority of 2022, the country’s public universities have been paralyzed by industrial action over academic workers’ demands, including the non-payment of N1.1 trillion in university revitalisation funds.
ASUU put off its strike in October after a court order. Its relationship with the federal government, though, has remained tense.
The professors received partial payment from the federal government at the end of October, prompting a one-day nationwide protest in November.
However, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, stated that the Federal Government’s ‘no work, no pay’ policy implemented during the strike is legal.
He went on to say that the decision was based on the government’s legitimate interest in avoiding moral hazard and prohibiting disruptive labor activity.
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The federal government also defended the pro-rata payment, claiming that employees could not be paid for work that was not completed.
The instructors were paid what they were due, according to Adamu Adamu, Minister of Education.
Similarly, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, denied media accusations that the government was biased in paying university lecturers through the ministry’s spokesman, Olajide Oshundun.
However, ASUU National President Prof Emmanuel Osodeke accused Ngige for allegedly authorizing the part payment, calling him a “interloper.” He also voiced confidence in the Federal Government’s ability to resolve ASUU’s protests.
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