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ASUU BRANCHES TO HOLD CONGRESSES TO DISCUSS NEC MEETING OUTCOME

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed its branches nationwide to hold congresses to discuss the outcome of its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja. ASUU President, Prof Christopher Piwuna, stated that branch chairpersons will brief members on the meeting’s outcome before making it public. “The meeting was held at the behest of our members. The branch chairpersons left Abuja to their various branches. We will first report the outcome of the meeting to our members across all our branches before making it public,” Piwuna said. He emphasized the union’s procedure, saying, “Our members will have a briefing from their chairpersons.” Piwuna explained that members will hear the outcome directly from branch chairpersons, adding, “Our procedure is that once there is a NEC meeting, branch chairpersons will go back and brief their members on the outcome of that meeting. We can only go public after our members have received briefing from our branches.” The union had previously announced plans to hold rallies across public universities to protest the Federal Government’s failure to prioritize demands, particularly the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement. ASUU had given the government until August 28 to address these demands, hinting at possible industrial action if unresolved. “Once our congresses hold, you will know the outcome of our next line of action,” Piwuna stated, indicating the union’s next steps will be communicated after branch meetings.

ASUU ELECTS PROF. CHRIS PIWUNA AS NEW PRESIDENT

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has elected Prof. Chris Piwuna, a consultant psychiatrist at the University of Jos Teaching Hospital, as its new president. Piwuna, who is also the Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Jos, takes over from Prof. Victor Osodeke, a Professor of Soil Science from the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State. The decision was made at the 23rd National Delegates Congress of the Union, which took place in Benin on Sunday. Piwuna won the election, defeating his opponent Prof. Adamu Babayo from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. Piwuna’s assumption of office comes amidst widespread speculations of industrial action following issues surrounding the sharing formula of the Earned Academic Allowances recently released by the Federal Government of Nigeria, brain drain, and other pressing concerns affecting the university system. As the new president of ASUU, Piwuna is expected to guide the union’s engagements with the government and other stakeholders in addressing these challenges. His leadership will likely play a crucial role in shaping the future of tertiary education in Nigeria. Details about Piwuna’s plans for the union and his response to the current challenges facing the academic community are expected to emerge in the coming days.