After more than five months, university teachers will return to classrooms next week.
Yesterday, the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the decisions reached during the 13-hour meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan.
The government which initially said it would not sign an MoU with the union which it ordered to return to work or be sacked ate the humble pie.
Supervising Minister of Education Nyesom Wike signed on behalf of the government, National Universities Commission (NUC) Executive Secretary Prof. Julius Okojie signed on behalf of the management. Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Abdulwaheed Omar and the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Education also signed.
Wike said all contending issues between ASUU and the Federal Government have been resolved to the satisfaction of the parties.
The minister said: “Today is not just historic; it is one of the happiest days of my life since I became the Supervising Minister of Education. As 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.
”Following Mr. President’s personal intervention in the marathon meeting he held on 4th November, 2013 with the Executive of ASUU and other Labour Union leaders where all residual issues were resolved, Nigerians from all walks of life had expressed optimism that the strike would soon be called off. Unfortunately and sadly too, this was not to be due to ASUU’s insistence that the Federal Government must take further practical steps to show good faith and commitment to the implementation of the agreement.
”As a responsible and responsive government we have a duty to restore normalcy to our University system so that our children can resume classes and pursue their educational careers. Consequently, the Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities were directed to immediately reopen the Universities for academic activities, while the minor discrepancies are sorted out.
”Today, I am very pleased to announce that all contending issues between ASUU and the Federal Government have been resolved to the satisfaction of the parties. Let me emphasise that we recognise and appreciate ASUU’s patriotic role and commitment towards ensuring that our Universities are well-funded, resourced and run like their counterpart in other parts of the world. Thus, we are all partners in progress and there is no victor; no vanquished in the struggle of this nature for as long as our goals remain noble, not actuated by parochial interests, and targeted at moving our nation forward.
“Let me reiterate that the Federal Government is serious about revitalising all our universities and will continue to fund them as a matter of priority.”
ASUU President Fagge said: “I thank all stakeholders for ensuring that we come this far. It is important to acknowledge the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan. He made it possible that we could come this far. What we had agreed with Mr. President in that 13 hours meeting had been judiciously documented and our members presumed that it was going to be documented, we wouldn’t have wasted time.
”I do not have the power to call off the strike. It is only our members that can do that. And within one week our members will meet and decide to call off the strike. We have a document here which shows that government is committed. And all the things we demanded for are in the letter. ”Our members are intellectuals. Since the signing of the 2009 agreement we (ASUU) have been pursuing government to get that agreement implemented. We succeeded in getting a portion of the agreement implemented and here we are, we have lost time about four years.
”But I think it is never too late to turn a new page and do what is right with our universities. If we ever think that there is no need to fund the university education then we are deceiving ourselves. I am convinced that now that we are willing to turn a new leaf to give our universities the adequate funding so that they can have all it takes within and outside the country then I want to assure you that very soon we will be among the best in the world. The minister has invited us to look at the document and signed it.
”And like Mr. President earlier directed, we will now take this document to our members. And we are confident that our members will do the appropriate thing. I am a father and my children are in Nigerian universities and not in Malaysia, you can investigate. That is why I am also passionate about ensuring that our children get high quality education in Nigeria.”
The NLC President said: “The struggle that ASUU has put up must be seen in the correct perspective that it is a very selfless struggle because it is a struggle to make sure that universities have a very conducive environment to learn.
”I am very happy that today we are coming to a very good conclusion. Nobody has gone on strike because they just want to go on strike but because of Nigeria.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Congratulations ASUU. Aluta continua!
ReplyDeleteis well, wit our spirit 9ja.
ReplyDeletefinally Asuu won. Solidarity forever.
ReplyDeleteWas it a combat? What do you mean by finally Asuu won?
DeleteYou don't have a dictionary to check out the meaning of simple words?
DeleteNigerians are gradually refusing to be taken for a ride, we have a constitution which specifies a select group of people should declare their assets, but their head doesn't give a damn, citing moral grounds. He allegedly had an agreement with some people in 2007, but suddenly remembered the constitution gives him the right to vote and be voted for, the very constitution he refused to abide by it in the first instance raised above on moral grounds, as though we were governed by morals, on the other hand he allegedly voids a pre-2007 arrangement without considering the moral implications. I think ASUU's brain is not shoeless which is why they insisted on a constitutionally recognized signed document they can fall back to, whenever need arises without giving a damn to his in executable dead lines.
DeleteAlhamdulillah.
ReplyDeleteNelson Mandela from prison to president.
ReplyDeleteObasanjo from prison to president..
Theodore Orji from prison to Governor.
Omisore Iyiola from prison to senator.
Al mustapha from prison is now becoming a
Brigadier General.
This prison is better than University oooo..... To all
student Please forget Asuu strike, try go prison
who knows whether you fit become your Local Govt
Chairman LOL!
thank God.
ReplyDeleteThis is one christmas gift students won't easily forget!
ReplyDeleteEnsure d money is spent judiciously!tym 2 dust ma book!
ReplyDeleteWow!!! Atlast.
ReplyDeleteAlhmdlh...atlast!.
ReplyDeleteAlhamdulillah,,we thank almighty Allah 4 dis day!...gr8 nigerian student!
ReplyDeleteMay God bless Mr Nasir Fagge, another professor could have collected bribe and called it off since. There exist good Nigerians-there is hope for a greater Nigeria-nation
ReplyDeleteVICTORIA atalast!
ReplyDeleteFG! Next is ASUP.
ReplyDeleteThanK God O,lets pray dey cal it off o
ReplyDeleteTHANK GOD THIS IS HAPPENING AT LAST.LEADERSHIP GOES WITH RESPONSIBILITY.OUR LEADERS SHOULD THINK LESS OF SELF,LEARN TO BE REASONABLE AND THINK MORE OF THE VICTIMS OF NIGERIAN MALADMINISTRATION.POSTERITY WILL JUDGE US ALL HOW WE MANAGE THE NUMEROUS RESOURCES GOD HAS ENDOWED ON US.
ReplyDeleteTHANK U JESUS CHRIST 4 DIS PROGRES
ReplyDeleteAfter ASUU, then NASU and SSANU must equally be settled since the discreditted ASUU does not possses the monopoly of greed! Its not yet Uhuru!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeletewow....... I'm happy, but hope next week will b nxt week? Asuu!
ReplyDeleteUncountable congrat...
ReplyDeleteA VERY GOOD DEVELOPMENT, CONGRATS STUDENTS.
ReplyDeleteI hope this is true. If we resume next week, then this is victory at last.
ReplyDeleteI hope this is true' cus am tired of staying @home'. God pls help 9ja our motherland
ReplyDeleteI Hope This Is True' Cus Am Tired Of Staying @ Home. God Bless 9ja Our Motherland
ReplyDeleteGlory to God the creator, the just Judge, the voice of the oppressed and voiceless, the patient and merciful father, the mind of Leaders and the be all end all. To every name there is a purpose, the name Good-luck may be synonymous with Emmanuel, God with us, since the abdication of OBJ and the unfortunate transition of Yar (may his soul test in peace) and the up coming of GEJ, certain unanticipated truce, out of panic and conceived vendetta, have been recorded, the ASUU/FG (wike) saga and the hands of Gid that has prevailed
ReplyDeleteWe however call upon all versities students to declare a nationwide strike so dat asuu will settle back academic calender in a year time.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to ASUU, students, parents FG and the entire country. This is a good development. Special thanks to all the ASUU guys out there. Now the next thing is the judicious utilization of the funds as they roll in. ASUU should ensure that whoever gets any contract to execute any of the projects, it is monitored seriously and best practice and standards adhered to. They should engage some of the departments in the universities as they rebuild and equip our institutions of higher learning. Government should also take these projects seriously and ensure that funds are spent only for the purpose they are budgeted. Strict compliance should be ensured and EFCC should promptly investigate and arraign any one who will loot this fund. "No setting up of committees to look into any damn thing". Let the anti corruption agencies go after anyone who will want to sabotage this landmark achievements that has been made by ASUU. Thumbs up ASUU! We have hope in this country. May God bless The Federal Republic of Nigeria!
ReplyDelete