By Adadainfo
The ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities took another dimension Tuesday as the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU) told the federal government to increase the salary of university professors to N800,000 as against the N1.2 million negotiated by the Nimi Briggs Committee.
The proposal represents a 50% salary increase offer as against the 23% increase being proposed by the federal government.
The committee further inaugurated a peace team of elders to find a lasting solution to the lingering ASUU that is currently seven months.
Faborode said that the goal of the team was not to allow the current impasse in the ASUU strike to prolong as its toll on all stakeholders and the nation had been colossal.
Our correspondent gathered that the team is made up of Prof Jibril Aminu, former vice chancellor, University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID); Emeritus Prof Olufemi Bamiro, former vice chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI); Prof Ekanem Braide, president, Academy of Science; and Dr Nkechi Nwagogu, former pro-chancellor, University of Calabar (UNICAL).
Others are Prof Joe Ahaneku, former VC, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK); Prof Fatima Mukhtar, former VC, Federal University, Dutse; and Prof Akpan Ekpo, former VC of University of Uyo (UNIUYO). Prof Michael Faborode, former secretary general, CVCNU and former VC, OAU.l, is the secretary
Quoting Faborode, “We should not fold our hands and watch our ‘house’ collapse on us as elders. So, we should speak or act now. We do not have any other industry other than the university system.
“Whatever can be done to bring all the actors to reason and broker peace using the Prof Nimi Briggs Committee recommendations as the fulcrum will be worth the effort. A lot had been done already and such patriotic efforts should not be wasted nor despised.’
“’Peace Team of Elders’ would operate under the auspices of the CVCNU/CPC, noting that both the Federal Government and ASUU are being reached to accept the intervention of the independent team of elders.
“The team will liaise with the Prof Nimi Briggs Committee to understand the basis of the elements of their proposals, and check with both the federal government and ASUU to identify the areas of concern and objection.
“Afterwards the team will brainstorm on how to mitigate the thorny areas and work with all the parties to bring the imbroglio to an amicable end in the interest of all concerned and the nation.
“The meetings and consultations will be mainly online by Zoom and perhaps finally face-to-face to safe costs once we make progress. This is however subject to review as we proceed.’’
