Toscad News 
In a bid to find a lasting solution to the lingering crisis with university-based unions, the Federal government has inaugurated its newly constituted renegotiation committee on the 2009 Agreements with the Unions.
At the event in Abuja, The Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman charged members to renegotiate realistic and practical agreements that are implementable.
Professor Mamman posited that the previous agreements had failed due to demands that were not feasible.
He said “This Committee is going to engage with the leaderships of ASUU, NAAT, SSANU and NASU. The Committee, which is expected to review the draft proposed Agreements with the various University based Unions, has the following Terms of Reference,
a. Liaise and consult with relevant stakeholders to guide the position of the Federal Government on the issues in the draft proposed FGN/University based Unions Renegotiated Agreements;
b. Renegotiate in realistic and workable terms the 2009 Agreement with other University-based Unions;
c. Negotiate and recommend any other issue the Committee deems relevant to reposition the NUS for global competitiveness.
He stated that the Committee would be further guided by the Acting Executive Secretary, of the National Universities Commission, Mr. Chris Maiyaki on matters of the Renegotiation exercise.
The Minister pledged the commitment of the present administration to bequeath a stable educational system that meets global standards.
Chairman of the Committee and Pro-Chancellor ABU, Zaria, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed while appealing for the support of the government to successfully carry out the assigned, promised to be dedicated and diligent to restore industrial harmony between the government and university based unions.
“I would like to assure the Minister and the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu of our commitment to do this job and that we would do it thoroughly. And where we feel that ASUU and other Unions should take a second look at their demands, we would tell them with confidence, where however, we see that the government is lacking in the commitment to implement, we would also not shy away to immediately invite your attention”.He said
The President, ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke expressed the hope that the reconstituted committee would be different from previous ones and renegotiate the demands in line with current realities.
“We want to thank the government and the minister for inaugurating this committee. It is our prayer that it should not be like the last committees.”
The seven-member committee has three months to come up with a new draft agreement.
List of Federal Government’s reconstituted committee to renegotiate the 2009 Agreements with the University-based Unions.
The members are:
1.Dr. Mahmud Yayale Ahmed – Pro chancellor, ABU, Zaria (Chairman)
2. Senator Olanrewaju Tejuoso
3. Senator Prof. Nora Daduut
4. Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe
5. Professor Ignatius Onimao
6. Senator Joshua Lidani
7. Prof Ayodeji Omole
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