Buhari approves team to re-negotiate FGN/ASUU 2009 agreement

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the membership of a Federal Government Team to renegotiate the 2009 agreement with staff Unions in Federal Universities, Federal Polytechnics and Federal Colleges of Education.

This is to engender sustainable peace and industrial harmony in tertiary institutions.

The 16-member team is chaired by Wale Babalakin, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Babalakin, who was adjudged the best pro-chancellor at the time of the negotiations in 2009, headed the agreement implementation committee then.

In a related development, President Buhari has also approved the reconstitution of the governing councils of University of Port Harcourt and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, which were dissolved in the recent crises that engulfed the two institutions. The new governing councils would serve for a term of four years, in the first instance, effective from December 28, 2016.

Adamu Adamu, the Minister of Education who announced the development at the weekend in a statement said the re-negotiation team will dialogue with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and Non Academic Staff Union of Associated & Allied Institutions (NASU).

Meanwhile, the government team comprises the following: Wale Babalakin, SAN; (Chairman), M.M. Jibril, Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Lafia; Nimi Briggs, Pro-Chancellor, FederalUniversity, Lokoja; Senator Gbemisola Saraki, Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Otuoke; Lawrence Ngbale, Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Birnin Kebbi and Alex Mbata, Pro-Chancellor, Imo State University, Owerri.

Others are: Olufemi Bamiro, Pro-Chancellor, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun; Representatives, Federal Ministry of Education; Representative, Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment; Representative, Federal Ministry of Finance; Representative, Federal Ministry of Justice; Representative, Federal Ministry of Budget & National Planning; Representative of the National Salaries, Incomes & Wages Commission (NSIWC); Representative of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

HARRISON EDEH