FG inaugurates renegotiation committee with COASU, ASUP, others

THE Federal Government has inaugurated two committees to renegotiate agreements reached with staff unions of colleges of education and polytechnics 2010.

Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu inaugurated the teams in Abuja, a statement by the Director, Press, Mrs Priscilla Ihuoma, on Wednesday said. The staff unions are College of Education Staff Union (COASU), Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), among others.

Adamu, said the agreements were due for renegotiation since 2013 but the exercise did not take place because of some unforeseen circumstances.

Chairman of Governing Council, Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu Mohammed Ababakar is  to chair the team to renegotiate with Polytechnic Unions, while the Chairman of Governing Council, Federal College of Education, Obudu, Dr Obi Anthony leads the team to renegotiate with Unions in  Colleges of Education.

The Minister noted that barely two years into the life of the present administration, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the reconstitution of the government teams and the commencement of renegotiation with the unions.

He charged the members to study the agreements entered into with all the unions in the Colleges of Education and Polytechnics and engaged them with a view to reaching a workable and sustainable agreement.

“As members of the government teams, you are expected to play your role with skill and efficiency to come up with agreements that will help in stimulating rapid growth of the colleges of education and the polytechnics and make them more competitive and attractive,” he said.

Each team comprises 14 members made up of relevant stakeholders, including representative of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, representative of Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment, representative of Ministry of Finance.

Others are representative of Ministry of Justice, representative of Ministry of Budget & National Planning, and representative of the National Salaries, Incomes & Wages Commission.

Responding on behalf of all renegotiating team members, Chairman of the Governing Council, Auchi Polytechnic, Chief Michael Oloyo expressed the commitment of members to accomplish the goals set before them.