Nasarawa State University chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU has agreed to suspend the over 2 months old industrial action it embarked upon if government pays outstanding salaries and the 20 percent Earned Academic Allowance, EAA, owed workers.
Speaking after their Congress meeting in Keffi, Chairman of the Union Dr Theophilous Lagi stated that both the Governing Council and ASUU have agreed in principle to suspend the strike on the ground that government should fulfill its obligations.
His words, “We have agreed to suspend the strike, if government fulfills its own part of the deal, If they can do that, we are ready to resume work immediately.”
In a memo from the Office of the Chairman of Governing Council of the University, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, all the contentious six items have been deliberated upon, providing “specifics” as ASUU has always demanded.
Government says it would provide two hundred and two million Naira (N202m) and another fifty million Naira (N50m) for emolument and capital expenditure respectively.
It has also raised the EAA to 20 percent, of which ASUU is demanding immediate payment, along with the three months salary arrears for the strike to be called off.
Governing Council agreed to meet with Appointment and Promotion Committee, after receiving input from ASUU, in order to review the promotion guideline and the 2015 promotion exercise.
They also resolved that ASUU should present its input on the draft University Law to Council after which the draft would be forwarded to the Ministry of Justice for further processing within two months.
ASUU is also required to present its input to Council on the implementation of the White Paper for final consideration.
On the issue of exorbitant tax regime, Council also offered to discuss with the Visitor of the University, Governor Tanko Al-almakura, in furtherance of his commitment to set up a committee to review the current tax regime being paid by staff of the University.
It would be recalled that the institution’s ASUU, had in March this year, embarked on an indefinite industrial action following the reluctance of the University management to heed their demand for allowances arrears and other issues bothering the University System.
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