ASUU - Delsu to FG: Sign Nimi - Briggs C'ttee 2009 agreements to forestall crisis

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka Chapter, has urged the Federal Government to avert disruption of the academic system by signing the Nimi-Briggs Committee’s negotiated 2009 agreements.

ASUU - DELSU has, at a Congress in Abraka, Delta State, has been called upon  to mobilize members for action should the Government fail to heed the warning.

Dr. Paul Opone, ASUU - DELSU Chairman, told reporters: “We held a congress today to brief our Comrades on the state of the struggle. Recall that on 22nd May, 2023, the new zone of ASUU had in  a  press conference here, to x-ray the many problems that the Union is going through, and the focal point of that day was the ASUU/FG unsigned agreements."

“Recall that our salary regime of 2009 remains what applies to us. Now, 15 years ago, that agreement was signed and ought to have been reviewed before now. Many Comrades are suffering because the Nigerian people are going through a crisis of livelihood. 

"ASUU has pressed on to ensure that, the agreements were signed. Recall also that in 2021,  ASUU went on strike for over nine months to demand the signing of the agreements.

“Up to this moment,  that has not happened. We met at Ife in Congress to discuss this matter. We gave the Government four weeks to address this issue, and the four weeks elapsed, nothing was done. An emergency Congress was called on the 8th of June to also appraise the situation. 

“As a responsible Union, we have decided that all branches should  mobilise and sensitise their people. 

"The issue is that the Nimi- Briggs- Committee had completed that negotiation and it has been on the table,  but the government refused to sign it. 

"ASUU's  responsibility is to train the minds, who lead the nation,  but that sector has remained largely unmotivated.

“We are suffering, and call on well-meaning Nigerians to ensure that  the Government  signs  the agreement.

"Failure to sign that agreement is a recipe for crisis. We have tried every means to ensure that peace remains in our educational system. We have always said that ASUU is not a troublemaker, many people think that all ASUU likes is to go on strike.

"ASUU does no go on strike, except it has exhausted every avenue, and at this point, we have exhausted every avenue, and now, call on Nigerians to intervene.

“We have tried our best, but the political leadership has learnt nothing and forgotten nothing. We cannot continue with that. 

"Therefore, ASUU- DELSU  calls  on the Federal Government to sign that Nimi-Briggs agreements as the only way to ensure industrial harmony in our universities."