STRIKE: ASUU gives up

The negotiations between the
Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU) and the Federal Government
collapsed again yesterday as the
lecturers have pulled out of the
Governor Gabriel Suswam-led
Committee on Needs Assessment of
Nigerian Universities.
In a letter detailing its reasons for
withdrawing from the committee, ASUU
said that the committee had not made
progress on the issues for which it was
set up, adding it was not satisfied with
the way the N100 billion raised by
government to rehabilitate structures in
the universities was being managed.
Worse still, ASUU in the letter dated
August 26 and signed by its National
President, Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge, accused
the Suswam committee of not being,
clear on its plans for managing the
funds. It cited the inclusion of a "Project
Administration Fund," even as it queried
the manner which funds were allocated
to universities slated to benefit from
government's intervention.
The letter stated that, "we have also
noted albeit quizzically, that some
N1.975 billion was allocated to the 62nd
university called Project Admin Cost.
"We see no justification for allocating an
amount more than what is allocated to
four universities put together to a bogus
Project Admin Cost". The striking
lecturers who had earlier announced
their withdrawal from negotiations with
the government, said that until the
activities of the Suswam committee are
carried out transparently and its
misgivings on the modus operandi of the
committee are addressed, ASUU will not
return to the committee.
"In view of the foregoing, ASUU will be
unable to continue in the membership of
the committee until the issues raised are
properly addressed", Fagge stated.