Date: 2017-02-16

The Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdulgniyu Ambali, visited the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on a familiarisation and to strike a cooperation.

Ambali, who seized the advantage of his visit to speak with reporters, advised the Federal Government to consider the rate of inflation in its agreement with Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Ambali told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, that this would reduce the friction between it the institutions' unions.

"There are two approaches to it. The first is the government should keep track of the inflation across the country.

"Whenever there is an agreement on either payment of one thing or the other, the annual inflation should be taken into consideration.

"This is because if you are given N10 million to purchase equipment this year by next year the value has depreciated.

"Again, the prompt release of whatever is allocated is also very important otherwise, inflation will also eat it up.

"The other approach is that universities should be encouraged to look inwards and then be able to generate something for the university.

"It is important for the government to give them that advantage of generating and transparently using the amount generated to improve their universities.

"The scare of whatever you generate you bring, the TSA, is discouraging some people.

"But if you say generate and then tell us how you utilise certain percentage of it or a greater percentage of it; it will encourage universities to do more."

NAN reports that the Federal Government on Monday inaugurated a 14-man committee to re-negotiate the 2009 FGN/University Based Staff Unions Agreement following a one-week strike by the ASUU.

The Vice Chancellor said that the University of Ilorin had ventured into consultancy services and investment in the agricultural sector to help it generate more money to run the institution. (NAN)