The Plateau Government has agreed to pay N70 million out of the N215 million Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) with immediate effect, to striking members of the Academic Staff Union (ASUU) of Plateau State University (PLASU), Bokkos.
The government also pledged to pay the balance in two installments on or before October 2021 and October 2022.
It also agreed to construct 30 number staff quarters as part of Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) entered into with the PLASU academic staff.
The government’s stand made available to newsmen on Wednesday was contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached and signed with the striking academic staff of PLASU on March 2.
The MoU was signed by Mr Azi Izang, Head of the State Civil Service and Mr Kakmena Audu, state Higher Education Commissioner on behalf of the state government and Dr Bentse Pamson PLASU ASUU Chairman, and Prof. Lawan Abubakar, ASUU Zonal Chairman, Bauchi.
The MoU which brought about the suspension of the almost three months impasse in the university, also stipulated that “nobody shall be victimised in anyway whatsoever for his/her role in the process leading to the Memorandum of Action.”
“With this resolution, ASUU undertakes to suspend its industrial action with effect from 12.59pm of Tuesday, March 2.
“Therefore, consequential adjustment arrears for the new minimum wage to staff of PLASU will be paid with effect from October 2020 as applicable to other workers in the state, ‘ the agreement read.
On the issue of under staffing, the two parties agreed that all the department in the university should have at least a qualified secretary with effect from March 1, 2021 as well as address with immediate effect,the critical staff deficits in the institution.
They also agreed that construction, tarring and completion of the entire road network within the university campus as to be captured in the 2022 budget of the state government as well as completion of fencing of the university to address the problem of insecurity.
The government also expressed its commitment to funding the institution within available resources captured in the 2021 fiscal budget amongst other pledges to turn around the academic performance of PLASU.(NAN)
