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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has decried the lingering strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), describing it as a threat to its preparations for the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

Speaking at a one-day workshop on Gender Sensitive Reporting of Elections on Thursday in Abuja, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye, said over 70% of the ad hoc staff requirement for the elections, was drawn from students of federal tertiary institutions.

“The lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, will no doubt have serious impact on the preparations for the conduct of the 2019 elections.

“It is therefore important that students of federal tertiary institutions should and must be in school at least a month before the February 16 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

“They are one critical resource and their absence will have adverse effects on the ad hoc staff requirement of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC,” Okoye stated.

The Federal Government has said that talks with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have so far been fruitful, expressing optimism that the ongoing strike by the university teachers, will soon be called off.

According to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, this is predicated on the FG’s consideration of some of ASUU’s demands, including the submission of the union’s list of outstanding payments, and the identification of some areas in the universities in need of revitalisation as contained in the signed 2009 agreement.

Ngige said: “There are areas that are still outstanding which we are going to address on the 17th. We have the issue of shortfall of salaries, that of some federal university workers. ASUU has given a list to the office of the Accountant General.

“We agreed that by Wednesday that the list will be checked to find out really whether those universities were actually paid and they have to be visited and paid the outstanding lecturers there. So, the Accountant General’s office is to come back to us.

“We have also the issue of Earned Academic Allowance and the issue of revitalisation. These are issues of 2009 agreement. We will look into the consideration and we have identified one area of the fund for revitalisation.

“The federal government organs will be contacted and we do expect that we will have some words for ASUU. Same goes for the earned allowances. We will make sure that the issue of the outstanding amounts is handled in a way that all parties will be properly accommodated,” he said.

Ngige revealed that during the talks, the quality of graduates from state-owned universities was brought to focus, with a view to upgrading the standard of education in order to meet with global standards.

“We also discussed the issue of state universities and since education is on concurrent list, the universities should be properly funded and staffed, so that we do not produce half baked graduates from those universities. And towards realising that, the ministry of education will engage the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. The minister of education is taking steps towards that direction and will organise that interaction.

“Engaging them directly and giving professional advice is what the ministry will do. These are some of the issues we discussed and to me; the discussions were fruitful. We want the children to go back to school,” he added.

Azeezat Adedigba

Another meeting between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) ended on Monday night without an immediate resolution of the dispute.
The meeting which held at the Federal Ministry of Labour was to find a lasting solution to the ongoing strike by the university lecturers.

At least four other meetings have been held between both parties before Monday’s since the strike commenced on November 4.
While addressing journalists, the minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige, said the meeting has been adjourned to December 17.
Mr Ngige said the federal government is taking all necessary steps to address ASUU’s demands.

”Cosidering the implementation of memorandum of action which we agreed to in 2017. Some of the areas have been well complied with but some have not been dealt with,” he said.
Speaking on the issue of short fall in salaries of some federal universities’ lecturers, Mr Ngige said ASUU had given a list to the accountant general’s office.

”We agreed that by Wednesday, that list will be cross checked with the Presidential Innitiative of Continuous Auditing to find out really whether those universities are places where they have to visit and pay the outstanding lecturers there. So, the office reports back to us on Wednesday,” he said.
The minister also identified low government revenue as a reason for non-provision of funds for revitalisation of universities.

”We have identified one area to look for the fund for revatalisation and the appropriate government organs will be contacted tomorrow,” he said.
Speaking on earned allowances, Mr Ngige said the government has agreed on what to do to make sure the outstanding amount is handled in a way that all parties will be properly accommodated.

”We also discussed the issue of state universities and agreed that even though education is on concurrent list, the universities should be properly funded and staffed so that we don’t produce half baked graduates,” he said.
He said the ministry of education will set up a committee that will engage the Nigerian Governors Forum on funding state universities.

“These are the issues we discussed and we hope in the next adjourned date, we would make progress and bring the strike to close. ASUU has been cooperative,” he said.

Meanwhile, the ASUU chairman, Biodun Ogunyemi, said the union will await the next adjournment date to see how far the federal government will deliver on its promises before it will take a decision on whether to suspend the industrial action.

”We have promises made on the part of the government and we shall await report on all the issues for which they have made promises”, he said.

Mr Ngige had earlier at the meeting appealed to the striking lecturers to ensure that Monday’s dialogue yields results that will lead to ending the strike.

”The strike is five weeks old today and it is not in anybody’s interest. We will ensure the needful is done,” he said.

The union embarked on the strike on November 4 over the poor funding of Nigerian universities and non-implementation of previous agreements by the government.