The Federal Government has selected Dr. Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, the Pro-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, as the head of the 2009 Federal Government Re-negotiation Committee with university-based staff. The committee’s other members include Olanrewaju Tejuoso, Prof Nora Daduut, Amb Greg Mbadiwe, Prof Ignatius Onimao, Joshua Lidani, and Prof Ayodeji Omole. The inauguration of this fourth committee took place in Abuja on Tuesday.
Both the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions had given the Federal Government ultimatums to address their demands regarding salaries and other issues.
ASUU has put forward demands such as the release of revitalization funds for universities, payment of earned allowances, implementation of the University Transparency Accountability System for salary payments, and more. SSANU and NASU are also demanding improved remuneration, payment of withheld salaries, and implementation of agreements from 2009.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment enforced the “No Work, No Pay” policy during a previous university-based union strike in 2022. This new committee marks the fourth renegotiation effort since 2017, following previous committees led by different individuals in different years.
Despite the committee’s inauguration, concerns were raised by NASU and SSANU that the focus seemed to be primarily on ASUU, with the other unions feeling marginalized. The statement signed by the unions’ representatives criticized the event’s proceedings, expressing concerns about potential biases and unfair treatment in the renegotiation process.