Barring any last-minute change, the Academic Staff Union of Universities is set to accept the pay rise proposed by the Federal Government, according to a document signed by ASUU President Chris Piwuna and obtained in Abuja on Monday.
ASUU’s decision to accept the offer, the document shows, was driven by the government’s refusal to shift ground and the union’s concern over prolonged stagnation of earnings caused by years of stalled negotiations.
Both sides also agreed to a three-year review of the agreement.
This implies that for every annual budget covering academic salaries and wages, each university will receive an additional 12 per cent specifically for earned academic allowances.
The latest round of negotiations began on Monday, November 24, and ended on Tuesday, November 25.
The meeting was part of the government’s last-minute efforts to avert a full-blown strike after ASUU’s one-month ultimatum expired.
However, ASUU’s branch leaders must still communicate NEC’s position to members before the union formally writes to the Federal Government to prepare for the signing of a new agreement.
In the document, Piwuna noted: “Government made several offers which were considered grossly inadequate and were accordingly rejected. After much push by our negotiators, a salary structure plus or minus the Nimi Briggs Committee’s recommendation was offered. The table shows that some cadres had a slightly higher salary than the Nimi Briggs recommendation, while others were slightly lower. NEC considered the offer and proposed that it was in our best interest to accept it, as continued rejection would result in stagnation of our earnings over a protracted period of negotiation.”
He also highlighted the agreement on earned allowances: “It was agreed that the annual cost of implementing the Earned Allowance for Academics shall be the equivalent of 12 per cent of the appropriated academic staff salaries and wages of each university, as already implemented in some state universities. This should be made available through budgetary allocations to the universities.”
On the state of university autonomy, the document stated: “It was agreed that universities shall be allowed to operate in accordance with their enabling laws, statutes and regulations and in conformity with due process and within the laws of the land. Both the government and the universities shall comply with and abide by the extant laws and regulations that apply to the university system.”
Regarding the review of agreements, it read: “A comprehensive review of the agreements shall be undertaken every three years.”
The document further addressed sustainable funding: “It was agreed that the FGN and ASUU would sponsor Bills on new and innovative forms of taxes to guarantee sustainable funding of education. It was further agreed that the FGN will issue executive orders towards achieving the same purpose.”