Federal Government on Monday set up a 14-man committee headed by Dr.
Wale Babalakin (SAN) to end incessant and protracted strikes in Nigerian
tertiary institutions. The committee is expected to re-negotiate the 2009 agreement between
government, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Senior Staff
Association of Nigerian Universities, National Association of Academic
Technologists and Non-Academic Staff Union of Associated and Allied
Institutions.
While inaugurating the committee, the Minister of Education, Malami
Adamu Adamu, said the re-negotiation team showed that government was
committed to keeping to its promise and ensuring an environment that was
conducive for learning, teaching, research and community service
“engendered through lasting industrial harmony.”
Adamu said, “Today’s inauguration kick-starts our drive for
re-negotiation across the three segments of the tertiary education
sub-sector-universities, polytechnics and colleges of education,
starting with universities.
“Subsequently, the teams of the re-negotiation with the polytechnics
and colleges of education, would be constituted as soon as their
respective governing councils are put in place.
“The inauguration of the re-negotiation team is significant as it
confirms to the unions that government is committed to keeping its own
side of the promise. It wants to ensure that an environment that is
conducive for teaching, learning, research and community service is
engendered through lasting industrial harmony in all our tertiary
institutions.”
Babalakin further assured the unions that he would ensure that there
would be no stalemate between the two parties and pledged that the
committee’s objective would be in creating a better educational system.
He said, “A conducive environment in the tertiary institution is the
bedrock for the development of a nation’s intelligentsia. A nation’s
development can be seriously enhanced by the active participation of the
intelligence in the pursuit of the country’ developmental goals.
“We also want to assure you that we intend to rise beyond your
expectations for the fourth realms of tertiary education in Nigeria.
This task should not be underestimated and with the commitment of all,
it could provide a serious enhancement for education in Nigeria.”
Members of the committee include Prof. Munzali Jibril, Pro
chancellor, Federal University, Lafia; Prof. Nimi Briggs, Pro.
Chancellor, Federal University, Lokoja; Senator Gbemisola Saraki, Pro
chancellor, Federal University, Otuoke; Arc. Lawrence Ngbale, Pro
chancellor, Federal University, Birnin Kebbi; Prince Alex Mbata, Pro
chancellor, Imo State University, Owerri and Prof. Olufemi Bamiro, Tai
Solarin University of Education, Ijagun.