Comrade Stephen Uchenna Ufoaroh, Chairperson ASUU NAU end of term report 2021 Introduction report

It is with a heart full of gratitude to God and you, my dear comrades of ASUU NAU, that I present this End of Tenure Report. This report covers the activities of the Branch between July 2018 to July 2021. Following a successful Branch election on 13th July, 2018, I assumed office as the Branch Chairperson.

This report will highlight new progress and possible way forward for our dear Branch. Like in every human endeavour, the Branch within the period of this presentation had its own challenges, ranging from court cases, issues of discipline, health problems, death of members spouses and members’ parents, cases of lukewarm attitude towards the Union’s principles and ideology, to below average attendance to congress meetings. These challenges notwithstanding, the Branch doggedly fought on from strength to strength which was evidence during the nine months ASUU strike of 2020 and completion of the first phase of our Branch Secretariat Complex.Membership and SolidarityThe membership strength of our Branch has continued to grow. All academic staff of UNIZIK are now members of ASUU, thanks to Congress resolution of non-payment of EAA to Non-ASUU members. On the University record we have about 2000 academic staff, but none remittance of check off dues by IPPIS has made it impossible for us to specifically give the exact numerical strength of the Branch.

However, by the journal of January 2020, the Branch numerical strength was 1467 check off paying members compared to 955 in July 2018.As the membership strength is growing, the comradeship and solidarity is also growing; however more work needs to done to increase the commitment of members. A lot of our members are actually yet to fully appreciate and understand ASUU. Fortunately, the last National Delegates Conference recommended that every member should be trained on the ideology and principles of our Union for a better ASUU and society. The National Leadership Training Committee shall provide the guide for training in branches. Beyond the expected leadership training, members are encouraged to always be present, punctual and sit through congress meetings as a way of understanding the Union that makes each and every one of us strong. ASUU National recently proposed that during such meetings, knowledgeable comrades should be called upon to educate members. This we have done, but still a lot needs to be done considering the recent employment of more academic staff. Functional Secretariat for ASUU NAU and StaffingIn the last three years we operated from the temporary secretariat which also housed ASUU NAU, ASUU NAU Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd and NUPEMCO. Today, I am proud to report that ASUU NAU does not just have a new ultra-modern Secretariat Complex, but one of the biggest and best in the Country. The Branch Executive, Expanded Executive, Committee meetings and Congresses now hold in our Secretariat.We have retained the services of two (2) fully employed regular staff (an account clerk and a driver) placed on Academic Staff Union of Universities Consolidated Employee Salary Scale (ACESS) patterned after the Federal Government Conditions of Service. New Conditions of Service and Appraisals & PromotionsWe are still expecting the release of the new conditions of service which was approved by the last Governing Council.With regard to appraisals and promotions, there is great improvement in the area of timely appraisal and return of results from external assessors for Readers and Professors. To the glory of God, almost all delayed external assessment results have been announced, we are tracking the remaining few..

Participation in Zonal and National Activities/ProgrammesComrades, our Branch has continued to lived up to expectation and, at the risk of sounding immodest, has become a reference point and shining example in zonal and national activities of ASUU. This was evident in the granting of the hosting right for 21st National Delegates’ Conference of our great Union. We have never been found wanting in any way as a Branch, both at the zonal and national levels. We still sometimes played the big brother to branches in our zone. It is my hope that we shall as a Branch not only sustain but continue to improve on this.Deceased Members and Spouses, Branch Participation and Payment of EntitlementsMy dear Comrades, in the struggles of life, death is inevitable. It is with a heavy heart that I remember our comrades we have lost to the cold hands of death and members who lost their spouses as follows:During the period under review, the Branch also actively participated in the burial ceremonies and has also processed benefits from ASUU National. The incoming Branch leadership should ensure that outstanding entitlements from both the Branch and ASUU National are processed and paid. Branch Welfare (Weddings, Loss of Parents and Children, Health/Hospital Visitation)During the period under review, we had fulfilled Branch obligations to members as it concerns weddings, burial ceremonies of parents and children of members, hospital and sick members’ visitation as provided for in our Branch Welfare Document. The advent of IPPIS caused some delays in our fulfillment of this obligation to our qualified members.The 2019 and 2020 National Strike and Matters ArisingComrades, the true test of the strength of any branch of ASUU comes during major struggles especially strike actions, whether it local or nationwide. Experience has shown that during strike, primordial sentiments including but not limited, to indigeneity, localism, ethnicity, religion, and clannishness become unfortunate reasons to sabotage the sincere efforts of struggles for true freedom. Some academics who by virtue of their calling should inoculate the society, regrettably ended up infecting the society with such sentiments. Our Branch is not immuned from such a vice. The good news, however, is that we successfully prosecuted the 2018/2019 three (3) months strike ( 4th November, 2018 to 6th February, 2019) and the 2020 nine months strike ( 23rd March, 2020 to 24th December, 2021).May I use this opportunity to encourage our members to always stand firm whenever our Union declares a trade dispute or engages on struggle to save the masses and the country. Notwithstanding the insignificant failings of very few of our members, I hereby state that I am very proud of our 2019 and 2020 outing during the nationwide strike and wish that we continue to improve as the need arises. To the glory of God we prosecuted the longest strike in the history of ASUU. This also brought out the resilience in our members and the love that was hiding in the hearts of our Deans, HODs Council members and other members who gave palliatives to our members in dire need. We also appreciate the ASUU NAU Cooperative Society for their initiatives by providing food stuff for members. The pains of that prolonged strike is not yet over, as some of our members are still owed salaries ranging from one month to more than one year. For these our colleagues, be assured that your salary will be paid to the last kobo.We all have the Memorandum of Action (MoA) leading to the suspension of the 2020 Strike Action.Issues yet to be resolved include:Implementation of the renegotiated of 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, which has been signed by both parties. Which will handle the condition of service of our members.Payment of outstanding salaries of our members.Deployment of University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) for payment of salaries of academic staff of Federal Universities.Payment of outstanding EAA.Revitalization fund for public Universities in Nigeria.We hope the FGN will not wait for another strike action to resolve all the outstanding issues in the 2020 MOA.The 2021 NAU NDC took a review of implementation of the MoA and directed ASUU National to ensure the full implementation. The struggle for the full implementation is a struggle for ASUU members. Each and everyone of us has a role to play and we should be ready when duty calls. Needs Assessment Academic Staff Training and Participation in BMC Activities.ASUU NAU was fully represented at all BMC meetings:The following projects were practically completed within the period under review:Faculty Building for Faculty of Health Sciences and TechnologyStudents’ Hostel at Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Agulu.500 seating capacity lecture hall and offices for Faculty of Biosciences500 seating capacity lecture hall and offices for Faculty of Physical Sciences500 seating capacity lecture hall and offices for Faculty of Environmental Sciences 500 seating capacity lecture hall and offices housing Centre for Migration Studies500 seating capacity lecture hall and offices for Faculty of Engineering500 seating capacity lecture hall and offices beside Laboratory for Vocational Education dept.University Medical Centre.Rehabilitation of road from school hostel through Elmalda to UNIZIK Primary SchoolThe following NEEDS Projects are still on goingUniversity Mini StadiumStudents hostel type D at AwkaStudents hostel type A at AwkaStudents hostel type A at College of Health Sciences Akamili NnewiSporting facilities behind Faculty of Social Sciences and Science village.Qualified ASUU NAU members were given scholarships from the balance of the 200 million set aside for scholarship in 2013 Needs Assessment Fund.

Let us not forget that Needs Assessment Fund is part of the gains of 2013 ASUU Struggle; as the Union makes us Strong, beneficiaries are encouraged to make judicious use of the sponsorship and avoid temptations associated with such a success. They are ASUU ambassadors and should conduct themselves as such. Finance and InvestmentsThe financial officers of the Union at the National and in any Branch are the Chairperson, the Financial Secretary, the Internal Auditor and the Treasurer. The Chairperson gives approval, the Financial Secretary raises the voucher in line with the Union’s Financial Regulations, the Internal Auditor checks to ensure that the entries are in line with the Union’s Financial Regulation and the Treasurer pays. The Principal Signatory for any payment without which no payment can be effected is the Treasurer; other signatories are the Chairperson and Financial Secretary. All the financial officers receive bank alert on the transactions on all the Branch bank accounts as directed by ASUU NEC. Another important duty of the Treasurer is to prepare quarterly accounts submitted to ASUU National.During the period under review, the financial officers of the Branch met several times to make recommendations on financial matters to the Executive and Congress. The outgoing financial officers also participated in the meeting of financial officers of the Union held at the ASUU National Secretariat. We also opened two accounts, namely ASUU NAU Students’ Welfare Account with Fidelity Bank; meant for students’ scholarship and ASUU NAU Account with Access Bank, opened during the 2020 strike and lockdown, meant for easy provision of palliatives to members during the last strike and lockdown. This brings the number of bank accounts we operated for the Branch to six (6) as follows: ASUU NAU Branch Account with UBA, ASUU NAU Welfare Account with First Bank, ASUU NAU Levy Account with Zenith Bank and ASUU NAU Secretariat Building Account also with Zenith Bank., ASUU NAU Students’ Welfare with Fidelity Bank and ASUU NAU Account with Access Bank. The account of the Branch is as presented by the financial officers in this report.On investments by the Branch, in the 2018 End of Tenure Report, it was stated that the Branch invested Ten Million, Eight Hundred and Eighty-six Thousand and twenty naira (N 10, 886, 020.00) in the ASUU NAU Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd.

As I present this report, our investment in the cooperative society rose to twenty two million, two hundred and eighty-six thousand naira (N 22,286,000.00). The Branch investment in the Cooperative Society was seriously affected by the nine months Strike in 2020 and subsequent challenges from the introduction of IPPIS. ASUU NAU Multipurpose Cooperative Society LtdThe ASUU NAU Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd as reported in the 2016 Report commenced operations in October 2015. It is worthy of note to state that the cooperative society is addressing the objectives for which it was established, which is: taking care of the financial needs of and providing investment opportunity for members of ASUU NAU. ASUU NAU Cooperative Society played a vital role in supporting members during the nine (9) months ASUU strike.

The Cooperative Management is currently working hard to ensure that land subscribers at the Isiagu ASUU NAU Estate are allocated their lands, while we appeal to all land subscribers to pay up their outstanding debts, so we can commence the second phase of the ASUU NAU Estate project which will make provisions for members not accommodated in the Isiagu Estate to have their own land and invariably their personal house.ASUU NAU Secretariat Complex Building ProjectIt is no longer news that the first phase of ASUU NAU secretariat building is now completed. The complex is the first of any ASUU Branch in Southeastern Nigeria and among the biggest Branch secretariat in NigeriaThe complex has the main auditorium (with 20 toilets), restaurant, the gym house (with toilet and change room for male and female), the digital library, mini conference hall (with toilets for male and female) and offices, 694 customized seats. All halls and offices are fully air conditioned.Final touches and test running of installations are still going on, including the landscaping, procurement of Transformer and Generator. The Secretariat Complex Auditorium is already open for commercial purposes.We hope that the incoming leadership will conclude all outstanding works in the first phase of the secretariat project and commence the construction of the business building that will house the Southeast Regional Office of NUPEMCO and ASUU NAU Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd as well the proposed ASUU NAU Guest House.NATIONAL DELEGATE CONFERENCE (NDC)To the glory of God ASUU NAU hosted the 21st NDC of ASUU Nigeria for the first time in her History. The NDC was a great Success based on remarks by participants. Our new Secretariat complex was officially opened during the NDC on 28th May 2021. Also, a new leadership of ASUU emerged at the just concluded NDC with Comrade Prof Emmanuel Victor Osedeke from our Owerri Zone, precisely Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU) as President. We give God the glory for the success of the 21st NDC. Over 600 delegates and invited guests participated.Appreciation of retired MembersHistory was made on 1st July, 2021, when ASUU NAU members gathered in the new secretariat Complex to appreciate committed members of the union who had retired from the University service, between 2012 to 2020.

Those retirees were given a certificate of meritorious service, a customized ASUU NAU branded shirt and a cash gift which depended on the number of years they were members of the union. Sixty four retirees were shortlisted for the celebration.We hope and wish the incoming Executive of ASUU NAU will take up the task of appreciating the past leaders of the Branch from 2012 to 2021 and other retirees not captured in the July 1st event.AppreciationThe success story of the outgoing leadership could not have been possible without the sacrifice of some dedicated members, individuals, friends, committees, groups and organizations, some of who worked behind the scene. In no particular order, I wish to start the expression of my appreciation to the Executive, Faculty Reps, departmental liaison officers, past leaders of the Branch, Zone and National Officers. Many committees of the Branch including ad hoc committees did their work excellently well and deserve a note of appreciation. These include the Legal Committee convened by Comrade Ikenga Oraegbunam (Reverend Father), Secretariat Building Committee convened by Comrade Victor Okonkwo, EAA Committee convened by Comrade Eric Ofoedu, Ethics and Grievances Committee convened by Comrade Nkechi Esimone, Committee on ASUU NAU Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd convened by Comrade I. A. Ekwealor, Health Committee convened by Comrade Timothy Mbaeri, Fitness and Wellness Programme coordinated by Comrade Innocent Igwilo and Welfare Committee convened by Comrade Vivian Nwogbo. Trade Union Education /CEPED by Comrade Dennis Aribodor, Students Matters by Comrade Ugochukwo Okonkwo, Research and Grants by Comrade Richard Uwakwe, Labour Matters convened by Comrade Geoffrey Onyebuchi, ICT by Comrade Azubuike Aniedu, Gender and Child Right by Comrade Amaka Iguh, Civil Society and Human Rights Comrade by Allen N. Adum, BMC/TETFund by Comrade J. Obi. Oguejiofor, Good Governance and Social Responsibility by Comrade Stan Udedi, and not forgetting the 2021 NDC LOC convener, Comrade Ike Odimegwu. I must not fail appreciate the ASUU Prayer team led by Comrade Nkechi Nwokoye and all who have continued to pray for ASUU NAU leadership in their secret places and Chapels. God in His mercy will reward you all for all the sacrifices made these three (3) years in Jesus Name.Amen The University Administration under the leadership of Comrade Professor Charles Okechukwu Esimone deserves commendation for being a listening administration and for all the approvals and support especially for the support towards the successful hosting of NDC and approval in principle for the land for construction ASUU NAU guest house. My appreciation also goes to the ASUU Owerri Zone, ably led by the Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Uzo Onyebinama, and all the present and immediate past Chairpersons of Branches in the Zone (COOU, FUTO, IMSU, MOUAU & NAU).I want to sincerely apologize to all I must have offended in the last three years in the course of my service to our great Union, please forgive and forget.

I publicly say a BIG THANK YOU to my darling wife and children for not only bearing my absence but for making them feel agitated whenever I am on the road. Your sacrifices are not in vain as we have God.Finally, I return all Glory, Praises, Adoration and thanksgiving to God Almighty for His mercies and grace upon my life these three years. Indeed, it is not of him that willeth but of God that showeth mercy. It is all about God’s mercy that we were not consumed on the high ways during the longest strike in the history of our Union.TO GOD BE ALL THE GLLORY!Thanks once again ASUU NAU family for the confidence you reposed on me three years ago.Without God’s mercy, grace and love, I will not be standing here to present this End of Tenure Report. I am eternally grateful to God Almighty. To Him be all honour, glory and adoration forever and ever-Amen.I humble appeal to us all to give maximum cooperation to the incoming Executive of ASUU NAU Thank you Comrades. The Struggle Continues!Solidarity Forever!Comrade Stephen UfoarohChairperson ASUU NAU 2018-2021