ASUP

By Anwar Usman

The Federal Government has reconstituted and inaugurated the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee to expedite ongoing discussions with academic and non-academic unions across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the spokesperson for the federal ministry of education, Folasade Boriowo, it was stated that the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has set up a new committee to harmonise all negotiation processes under one coordinated framework that reflects institutional memory and sector-wide inclusiveness.

Alausa explained that, unlike previous fragmented negotiations, the expanded committee will engage all unions collectively to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable agreement. “The membership of the committee has been carefully chosen to represent the full spectrum of the education sector, ensuring that no group is left behind,” he said.

The Minister stated that the committee has been given a well-equipped and functional secretariat to enable it to carry out its mandate effectively, adding that, “its inaugural meeting will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, 7th of October. He urged all academic and non-academic unions to cooperate fully and respond promptly to the committee’s engagements.”

According to him, President Bola Tinubu has given full political support to the process, with a clear directive that all negotiations be concluded swiftly, fairly, and in a spirit of civility and mutual respect.

Earlier, ASUU, in a bulletin released to its members on Monday, urged them to prepare towards a two-week warning strike set to commence on October 13.

The planned strike follows a two-week ultimatum issued by the union last week, calling on the Federal Government to proffer solutions to its unresolved issues, including the signing and implementation of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.

In the fresh circular, ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, complained about the government’s failure to provide any meaningful response to the union’s demands despite the ultimatum.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The atmosphere in the School of Technology at Kano State Polytechnic was engulfed with anticipation as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUP) election unfolded. 

Lecturers from all six branches of the polytechnic gathered to participate in the democratic process that would determine the leadership of the union for the next two years. 

The electoral committee had meticulously planned and organised the election, adhering to the constitutional provisions and code of conduct of the union. 

According to a letter dated December 15, 2023, from Malam Sulaiman Abdurrahman, the election was a mandatory biennial event, ensuring a regular turnover of leadership within the union. 

As the clock struck 8:00 p.m., the election kicked off with the candidates for the chairmanship position taking centre stage. 

Dr. Badamasi Inuwa from the Department of Life Science, SOT; Engineer Shehu Saikay from the Department of Electrical Engineering, SOT; and Bashir Umar Faruq from SGS all vied for the coveted role. 

The voting process proceeded smoothly as lecturers patiently waited in line to cast their votes, exercising their right to choose their representatives. 

Malam Sulaiman Abdurrahman, the secretary of the electoral committee, ensured that the election was conducted transparently and in accordance with the established guidelines. 

The election, scheduled to conclude by 3:00 am, saw lecturers patiently waiting to cast their votes, demonstrating a commitment to the democratic principles upon which the union was founded.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) will commence a two-week warning strike on Monday, May 16, 2022.

According to the ASUP president, Anderson Ezeibe, the decision was borne out of the emergency meeting of the union National Executive Council on Wednesday, May 11, 2022.

However, this is coming amidst worries over the extension of strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

ASUP decried that the federal government has refused to meet their demand, making it necessary for the union to embark on a strike.

Recall that ASUP has suspended its industrial action declared on the 10th of June, 2021, following the Memorandum of Action (MoA) which the government had signed.

The union said in a statement, “Non-release of arrears of the new minimum wage: The owed 10 months arrears for the Polytechnics is yet to be released. The composite amount covering all Federal Tertiary Institutions to the approximate figure of N19Bn currently exists as an AIE in the Accountant Generals Office.”

“We are deploying this medium to equally appeal to members of the public to prevail on the government to do the needful within the two weeks period so as to avoid an indefinite shutdown of the sector,” the statement added.