President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, urged the staff members of Nigerian universities to embrace peace and take advantage of the negotiation opportunities presented by his administration.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, and the Senior Staff Associations of Nigerian Universities are all preparing to strike, due to the government’s failure to fulfill their demands.
The unions have been insisting on the payment of their withheld salaries from the 2022 strike, among other issues, as they criticized the non-fulfillment of the 2009 agreement.
Tinubu, however, appealed for the unions to engage in negotiations as he remained steadfast in his commitment to ensuring that universities remain open to students.
Speaking at the grand finale of the 39th convocation of the University of Ilorin, which took place at the university’s main campus in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Tuesday, Tinubu stated that universities, like the nation as a whole, require peace to foster prosperity.
The President, who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, emphasized that his administration was dedicated to ensuring uninterrupted academic sessions in the universities.
He said, “My government is committed to an uninterrupted academic calendar. Let me, therefore, appeal to the staff members of the nation’s universities to always give peace a chance.
“Our universities, just as the entire nation itself, need peace to ensure prosperity.
“Gone were the days when universities would be closed down over issues that could be resolved through constructive engagements.
“No one gains anything from the closure of institutions of learning. We have grown beyond that and we should not return to that path. We would not allow that to happen again.
“Our universities should always be open for continuous quality teaching, research and community service to flourish.”
The President, who stated that the Federal Government is trying to fulfil its own part of the agreement, said “It was in this regard that the 2009 Re-negotiation Committee between the Federal Government and universities-based associations and unions under the leadership of Dr Yayale Ahmed was inaugurated.
“Furthermore as part of efforts to sustain this, we have effected the payment of four months of the previously withheld salaries of academic staff of universities.
“I have also directed the payment of the withheld salaries of the non-teaching staff of the universities. This was purposely done to show the magnanimity of the present administration, despite the activation of the principle of the ‘no work no pay’ rule.
“In addition, the Federal Government has also directed that the payment of salaries of university staff members be removed from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) forthwith.
“This is in response to the consistent pleas of the university trade unions. We will ensure that this removal is effected without further delay,” Tinubu said.
He spoke on student loans to tertiary institutions to cushion the effects of the current economic situation.
“Students of the University of Ilorin are not left out among the beneficiaries of this loan scheme.
“I am happy to inform you that the Nigerian Education Loans Fund (NELFUND) has come to stay to provide opportunities and access for students to learn with ease and pay back later.
“I, therefore, urge every student to take advantage of this privilege to better their lots,” he said.
Tinubu, however, urged the graduating students to join hands with other members of the society to solve the economic and security challenges facing the country.
