STRIKE: ASUU to Decide as FG Agrees to Release N30bn Earned Allowances
Authorities in Nigeria have agreed to release N30 billion as part payment of the Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The country’s minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige, was quoted to have said at the end of a meeting between the federal government and ASUU early Friday in Abuja that “The accountant general of the federation (AGF) was committed to release N30 billion on or before Nov. 6.
Ngige, according to reports, also said “The remaining N10 billion would be spread equally over the two tranches to be paid in May 2021 and February 2022 respectively. The OAGF should quickly conclude the verification of figures of EAA claims so as to clean up the figures from 2014 to 2020.
“To this end, a committee would be constituted by NUC to develop a template that would capture all the agreed allowances in the 2009 Agreement for all the Unions in the Universities.
“Thereafter, the OAGF and the National University Commission (NUC) are to quickly conclude the verification of the EAA figures, so as to defray the payment from 2014 to 2020. ASUU is to work with the OAGF and NUC to achieve that by the end of December,” he said.
The minister also said the process of mainstreaming of the EAA into annual budget using the agreed formula shall be activated, adding that the NUC and ministry of education are to coordinate the activation process immediately and should be concluded by Nov. 6th.
He claimed that the National Assembly has agreed to implement the process of mainstreaming provided the amount involved is sent in as quickly as possible by the Ministry of Education.
According to reports, the minister said the federal government and ASUU have agreed on the issue of funding for the revitalisation of public universities.
“In spite of the economic downturn as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, government have offer N20 billion payable by the end of January 2021”, he said.
The minister said ASUU has agreed to take the offer to its members for consideration and come back with a definite decision by October 21.
Recall that ASUU has been observing industrial action since the beginning of the year 2020.
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