Following two meetings (on
Thursday 19th Sept 2013 and Friday 11th
Oct 2013) of representatives
of the AVCNU (Association of Vice-
Chancellors of Nigerian
Universities, led by CVC Chairman, Prof.
Hamisu of ATBU)
and ASUU Representatives (led by its
President, Dr. Fagge)
with the Vice-President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria,
Arc. N. Sambo, Minister of Education Barr. N.
Wike and
others, all Vice-Chancellors have been urged
to inform and
enlighten academic and other staff on the
following
developments so that we can ensure a
return to normalcy in
our universities within the shortest possible
time.
1.Earned Allowances: The N30 billion already
released will
now be increased to N40 billion, and should
be regarded only as first installment, and not
a once-and-for-all payment.
Government will top it up with further
releases once
universities are through with the
disbursement of this new
figure of N40 million, so Vice-Chancellors are
urged to
expedite this disbursement within the
shortest possible time using guiding
templates that have been sent by the CVC.
2. NEEDS Assessment Capital Money:
Government was
cognizant and mindful of the ability of
Universities to
effectively/efficiently utilize the N100 billion
fund
immediately, hence that figure. However, in
addition to
this N100 billion dedicated and already to be
made available for 2013, N200 billion
(increased from N150 billion previously
agreed) will now be earmarked in the 2014
Budget as well as each of the following
three-four years until the Universities are
brought to world-class standard.
3. Project Prioritization: Universities will now
be allowed
to determine their priorities and not be
“rail-roaded” into
implementing a pre-determined set of
projects with respect to the NEEDS
assessment. Decisions are not to be
centralized.
4. TETFund Intervention: Government
assured that the
operations of the TETFund will not be
impaired, and that the regular TETFund
intervention disbursement to Universities
will continue, unaffected. So the NEEDS
assessment capital outlays are in addition to
regular TETFund intervention.
5. IMC: A new Implementation Monitoring
Committee
(IMC) for the NEEDs ASSESSMENT intervention
for
universities has been set up to take over
from the Suswan
Committee. The new one is under the
Federal Ministry of
Education and chaired by the Honorable
Minister of
Education. In addition, to build confidence
and ensure faithful implementation and
prevent any relapse as before, the Vice
President will meet quarterly with the IMC to
monitor progress.
6. Blueprint: ASUU was mandated to submit
a blue print
for revitalizing the Universities to the Vice President.
7. Official Agreement Document: A signed
document
would be issued very soon to itemize the full
issues on which this present consensus
outlined here, brokered by AVCNU, has been
reached.
8. An Appeal to Call Off Strike: The Vice-
President
Sambo appealed to ASUU to call off the strike
and apologized for the "take-it-or-leave-it"
comments credited to the Hon Minister of
Finance. All other parties present at the
meetings also prevailed on the ASUU
leadership to consult objectively with its
members to get them to agree with what is
now on the table and to call off the strike as
soon as possible after the Sallah break of
Tuesday/Wednesday October 15/16 2013.
9. ASUU President Responds: At both
meetings, the President of ASUU thanked the
VP for taking over
negotiations and promised to consult with
his ASUU
Constituency.
We keep our fingers firmly crossed, as we
await both the
official consensus agreement document and
full ASUU
reaction. Statesmanship from all sides is
called for at this point in time.
Signed:
Prof. Mobolaji E. Aluko
Vice-Chancellor
Federal University Otuoke.

Lets keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best!!!