UniAbuja: Council Bows To Unions’ Demands, Solicits End To Strike

By Osaretin Ekiadolor
The Governing Council of the University of Abuja has granted all demands by the striking unions of the university except the release of the 2012 Visitation panel report which it said was outside it’s purview.
Council then called on the unions to call off their strike and return to work and roles of building the future of the country through moulding of the students.
Pro-chancellor of the University, Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia said this at a Press conference after it’s meetings with the various stakeholders of the institution to resolve the matter.
The Council directed the School administration to immediately comply with the demands as directed by council stressing that failure to do so would translate to head-on collision with the Council.
The Pro-chancellor who was represented by a member of the council, Professor Edigba Agbo who said the Council deliberated exhaustively on the issues raised as demands by the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) both of Abuja Chapter.
He described the unions as partners in progress and called on both unions and management of the University to collaborate ninth greater interest of the university.
He said the processes for the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor for the university are in top gear without any hitch and fully transparent.
Ogbemudia assured that the Council will implement the White Paper immediately it is released meanwhile all the other issues bordering on promotion, election of Senate representative to Council and remittance of deducted checkout dues have been resolved.
According to Ogbemudia: “The Promotion arrears already submitted to the Budget Office be followed up by the administration speedily and report backstop the Council within three weeks.
“The Unions check off dues be restored immediately, while Council will notify the National Universities Commission. The April 2013 check off dues that were deducted be immediately remitted to members.
“The payment of claims are being processed and the Bursary department has been directed to bring same up for the Vice Chancellor’s approval and immediate payment,” the Pro-Chancellor stated.
The University Council said the demands response must be practical so that the unions can act fast in calling iffy the strike and insisted that administration should ensure compliance for quick resolution.
It would be recalled that the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) both of Abuja Chapter had respectively on Monday June 2, 2014 and Wednesday June 4 embarked on an industrial action to achieve their demands .