The renegotiation committee inaugurated to proffer resolution to the lingering disagreement between the Federal government and the Academic Staff Union of University, ASUU will this Tuesday end its sitting in the nation’s capital city, Abuja.
It was reported that the Federal Government on March 7, 2022, inaugurated a seven-person committee saddled with the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the other three unions.
The committee which was chaired by Pro-Chancellor, Alex Ekweme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Emeritus Professor Nimi Briggs was given three months to conclude the renegotiation with ASUU and other unions.
According to ASUU and SSANU national presidents, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke and Mohammed Ibrahim respectively, the Briggs committee has been meeting with the unions since May 2022 to renegotiate their agreements.
According to Osodeke, ‘‘there is progress but it depends on the government side. We had a fairly good meeting , but we are still trying to resolve the issues.
“Until we get the final report from the government,we are trying to work in the same direction. They are also testing UTAS.’’
It is believed that the committee would submit its report to the FG this week or they could be given an extension.
The Committee, which is expected to review the draft proposed FGN/ASUU Agreement, has the following Terms of Reference, liaise and consult with relevant stakeholders to finalise the position of the Federal Government to the issues in the draft proposed FGN/ASUU Renegotiated Agreement; renegotiate in realistic and workable terms the 2009 Agreements with other University-Based Unions; negotiate and recommend any other issue the Committee deems relevant to reposition the NUC for global competitiveness; and submit proposed draft agreements within three months from the date of inauguration.
