The Academic Staff Union has acceded to the propositions of the Federal Government for the resolution of the over five months face-off that has led to the closure of the country\u2019s universities.
\nThe proposals, contained in a Memorandum of Understanding, was signed by the leadership of ASUU and the Federal Government delegation on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
\nPresent at the MOU signing ceremony were the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Abdulwaheed Umar; five Vice Chancellors, including those of the University of Port Harcourt, Ibadan and Kano; the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie; and the former Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Prof. Mamohood Yakubu.
\nWhile the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. MacJohn Nwaobila, signed on behalf of the Federal Government, the Chairman of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Fagge, signed on behalf of the union.
\nFagge said the agreement captured the main areas of the union\u2019s demands, including the deposit of N200 billion in a dedicated account at the Central Bank of Nigeria, the non-victimisation clause and infrastructural development among others.
\nThe Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, described the development as \u201chistoric\u201d.
\nWike said it was the happiest day so far in his tenure as the supervising minister of education.
\nAccording to Wike: \u201cAll contending issues have been resolved to the satisfaction of both parties.
\n\u201cWe are partners in progress and there is no victor no vanquish as our struggle is in the interest of the country.\u201d
\nWike expressed the government\u2019s appreciation to all stakeholders that contributed to the resolution of the crisis.
\nAccording to him: \u201cBut let me say clearly that today is not just historic but one of the happiest days in my life since I became the Supervising Minister of Education.
\n\u201cAs you are all aware, ASUU has been on strike for well over five months on account of their resolve to bring about a new lease of life to all public universities.
\n\u201cFollowing Mr. President\u2019s personal intervention, the marathon meeting he had on 4th November, 2013 with the leadership of ASUU and other union leaders, all residual issues were resolved.
\n\u201cNigerians from all walks of life had expressed optimism that the strike will soon be called off.
\n\u201cUnfortunately, and sadly too, this was not to be due to ASUU\u2019s insistence that the Federal Government must take further practical steps or show good faith to the implementation of the agreement.
\n\u201cAs a responsible and responsive government, we have the duty to restore normalcy to our university system so that our children can resume back to school to pursue their educational careers.
\n\u201cConsequently the vice chancellors of Nigerian Universities were directed by the pro-chancellors to immediately reopen the universities for academic activities while the minor discrepancies are being sorted out.
\n\u201cToday, I\u2019m very pleased to announce that all contending issues between the Federal Government and ASUU have been resolved to the satisfaction of the parties.
\n\u201cLet me emphasise that we recognise and appreciate ASUU\u2019s patriotic role and commitment towards ensuring that our universities are well-funded, resourced and run like their counterparts in the world.
\n\u201cThus, we are all partners in progress and there was no victor no vanquished in the struggle of this nature so as long as our goals remain noble, not accentuated by parochial interests and targeted at moving our nation forward.\u201d
\nFagge said one of the main organs of ASUU, the National Executive Council, which is the second highest ruling organ of the union, would meet and revert to the Federal Government within one week.
\nHe said it is after this that the union would communicate to Nigerians its decision.
\nHe expressed confidence that it would be positive.<\/p>\n
Source: Eagleonline<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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