The Federal Government has agreed to implement its 2009 agreement with the Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU). This was disclosed in Abuja, yesterday, by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, while delivering his speech at the commissioning of the new secretariat complex of the union built at Wuye District of the FCT.
The minister further praised the leadership of NASU for the maturity it had displayed in handling industrial disputes between the union and various public institutions from which it drew its membership.
Wogu lamented over the high social cost of incessant strikes, adding that they were increasingly becoming unbearable to the nation.
In her speech on the occasion, National President of the union, Mrs Ladi Iliya said the new national secretariat would serve as the hub for the struggle to protect the welfare of members of the union.
Giving reasons why the union decided to relocate its national headquarters from Ibadan to Abuja, she said this became necessary after the Federal Capital was relocated from Lagos to Abuja in 1991.
According to her, ”it became obvious to us that with the movement of the seat of power of the Federal Government from Lagos to Abuja, and NASU being a public sector union, it was only a matter of time before the National headquarters of the union moved to Abuja. The movement commenced with the opening of a Liaison office at Gimbiya Street, Area 11, Abuja.”
Going down memory lane she recalled that a decision was taken to effect the relocation when the National Executive Council of the union in 2001 imposed an annual levy of N200 on all NASU members for the building of a befitting National Secretariat at Abuja adding that the levy was ratified by 2003 quadrennial delegates conference.
She further stated that the first step taken towards actualizing the union’s goal of building the Abuja secretariat was the purchase of a piece of land near Apo Legislative Quarters.
Said he: “The estimated cost of the building based on the architectural design submitted was put at N1 billion adding that the union considered the cost unaffordable.
She informed the audience that the 2007 Quadrennial Delegates Conference decided that the Union should go into partnership with estate developer who will also partly fund the project.
She continued: “ However, in 2008, the NEC of NASU after extensive discussions on the advantages and disadvantages of entering into an agreement with a developer decided that the land should be sold and proceeds from the sale should be added to the balance in the levy account to buy a completed building to serve as the National Secretariat of the union”.
She further stated that the leadership of the union in strict compliance with the decision of the NEC purchased the building the new secretariat building which is comprised of six flats with boys quarters.
Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman, Committee of Pro-chancellors of Nigerian universities Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN) also confirmed that the Federal Government had agreed to implement its 2009 agreement with NASU.
