UNIJOS moves to avert another ASUU strike

The management of University of Jos on Monday
took steps to avert another strike by the local
chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU).
The University inaugurated a committee to urgently
address errors in the payment of the earned
allowances of the members of the academic staff of
the university as lecturers vowed to stay away from
work.

It would be recalled that the lecturers vowed not to
participate in any academic activity until their
allowances were fully paid.
Prof Hayward Mafuyai, UNIJOS Vice Chancellor who
briefed newsmen shortly after an emergency meeting
of the University Senate said that the committee
was given three days to complete its assignment.
Mafuyai said that the senate during the meeting
reaffirmed that the Jan 6, 2014 resumption date of
the university stands.
“The ASUU Chairperson was in the meeting and he
told us on the floor of the senate that ASUU was not
on strike, it therefore means that the activities would
go on as expected,’’ he said.
He said that committee that paid the allowances
was the university council committee and not
management committee as was wrongly portrayed
by ASUU.
“Earned allowances were paid to all members of
staff of the University on Oct. 4, 2013 and Dec. 4,
2013 respectively.
“Management has noted the observations of ASUU,
University of Jos Chapter, of a few errors in the
payment made and the committee is to reconcile
differences within the shortest time,’’.
The VC advised the
students, heads of
departments and deans
to report any lecturer
who absents himself/
herself from classes
since ASUU was not on
strike.
Mafuyai, who assured
the lecturers that the
issue would sorted out
immediately, noted that
it was time to recover
from the five months
wasted during the
ASUU strike instead of
elongating it locally.
Meanwhile, Dr David
Jangkam, ASUU
Chairperson, said that
fundamental errors
were made in the
payment N1.16 billion
released to UNIJOS by
the Federal Government
for earned allowances.
Jangkam said some of
their members were
either under paid or not
paid at all.
“Those who are not
entitled to the allowance got three to four times
what those who are entitled to got.
“The ASUU University of Jos chapter has met and
has written to call the attention of the University
administration to this misapplication of money
meant for members of ASUU but to no avail,’’ he
said
He said that an understanding to resolve the issue
has started and that they were holding discussions
with the management with a view to resolving the
issue in the shortest time possible.
“I want to correct the impression that we were on
strike, We communicated to the management of the
university our observations on the earned
allowances.
“But I want to add, however, that we will not go
back to the class until the issue is addressed.
“ We want the money to be paid so that it would
not disturb activities in the University of Jos,’’ he
stated. (NAN)