BY OUR CORRESPONDENT
The House of Representatives Committee on University Education has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja Chapter to suspend the indefinite strike its members have embarked since May 2, 2024.
Hon. Abubakar Hassan Fulata, Chairman, House Committee on University Education made the appeal when the Vice Chancellor of University of Abuja, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah and delegation of ASUU led by its Chairman, Sylvanus Ugo met with the committee at National Assembly over the disagreement and unfolding events that led to the strike action.
In his opening remark, Fulata said in view of his committee and House of Representatives’ determination and stand that there should be no disruption of academic activities in universities, they ensured that the Federal Government remove universities from Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
“When we came on board we promised that there should be no disruption of academic activities in Nigerian Universities. We observed that university management was in complex condition under IPPIS. Before a cleaner could be appointed, the management needed to seek the permission of Head of Service of the Federation, Ministry of Finance and about five other ministries and departments. This ordinarily should be the responsibility of the university council. We made the appeal, and Mr. President, listened to us and took away universities and other tertiary institutions of learning from IPPIS.
He said recently in attempt to prevent strike action in universities, the committee also had an interface with the officials of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU); Non-Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) over their decision to embark on indefinite strike due their withheld salary.
“They concluded their warning strike and about to proceed with Indefinite Strike. They have genuine reason because the Federal Government has paid parts of withheld salary of members of ASUU but their own was not paid. Following our intervention, the suspended the strike. We are also doing everything possible to ensure their issues are addressed,” Fulata said.
Addressing the committee, Chairman of the ASUU, Abuja Chapter, Sylvanus Ugoh said the issues in contention that resulted to the indefinite strike include: Illegal advertorial of the vacancy of the post of Vice Chancellor. He noted that the it is the governing council that is responsible for the process of appointing a new VC but in the absence of the Council as it is today, the Senate of the university can elect an Acting VC.
He said “You will recall that the University Administration placed an advert for the vacancy of the post of the Vice Chancellor on Daily Trust Newspaper of Friday 15th March, 2024 in contravention of the Universities Miscellaneous Provision Act 1993 (as amended) 2003 and 2012 section 3 subsections 1 and 2 which states:
“Where a vacancy occurs in the post of a Vice Chancellor, the Governing Council shall advertise the vacancy in a reputable journal or a widely read newspaper in Nigeria.”
Other issues he raised include ‘illegal’ appointment of deans, recruitment of staff without due process, ‘illegal’ promotion as well as removal of ASUU from University of Abuja Micro Finance Bank despite their investment.
However, Prof Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, the 6th substantive Vice Chancellor of University of Abuja who will retire in June, 2024 in his submission noted that the Minister of Education gave him permission to place advertorial in respect of the vacancy of the post of VC in university of Abuja.
Na’Allah also noted that the appointment, recruitment and promotion he had carried out are not in contravention of the University Act.
The federal government had in June, 2023 dissolved the university councils. The councils are yet to be reconstituted.
Fulata promised that National Assembly will soon come up with a bill that will address the lacuna as regard the appointment of VC and running of the university in the absence of the council.
Following extensive deliberation, the committee appealed to the ASUU to suspend the strike while further consultations are on-going.