The Federal Government (FG) has appointed Dr Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, the Pro-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria as the chairman of the 2009 Federal Government Re-negotiation Committee. The Education Minister, Tahir Mamman inaugurated the committee and stated a three-month deadline to conclude negotiations.
The seven-member committee includes representatives from ASUU, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), among others.
In 2009, the FG signed an MoU with ASUU and other tertiary unions to address issues such as poor funding, staff welfare including pension benefits and other demands.
However, university unions claimed that the implementation of the 2009 FG-ASUU MoU has not been met especially regarding funding and improved funding.
The unions stated that the value of the agreed-upon salary and other staff welfare has diminished as a result of inflation and supposed high cost of living.
More details later.