FG QUITS TALKS WITH FG

The negotiations between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government collapsed again yesterday as the lecturers have pulled out of the Governor Gabriel Suswam-led Committee on Needs Assessment of Nigerian Universities.

In a letter detailing its reasons for withdrawing from the committee, ASUU said that the committee had not made progress on the issues for which it was set up, adding it was not satisfied with the way the N100 billion raised by government to rehabilitate structures in the universities was being managed.

Worse still, ASUU in the letter dated August 26 and signed by its National President, Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge, accused the Suswam committee of not being, clear on its plans for managing the funds. It cited the inclusion of a “Project Administration Fund,” even as it queried the manner which funds were allocated to universities slated to benefit from government’s intervention.

The letter stated that, “we have also noted albeit quizzically, that some N1.975 billion was allocated to the 62nd university called Project Admin Cost.

“We see no justification for allocating an amount more than what is allocated to four universities put together to a bogus Project Admin Cost”. The striking lecturers who had earlier announced their withdrawal from negotiations with the government, said that until the activities of the Suswam committee are carried out transparently and its misgivings on the modus operandi of the committee are addressed, ASUU will not return to the committee.

“In view of the foregoing, ASUU will be unable to continue in the membership of the committee until the issues raised are properly addressed”, Fagge stated.