ASUU Strike: FG Urged By Vice-Chancellors To Speed Up Dispute Resolution

The federal government has been urged by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities to speed up the process of the ongoing impasse between it and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) amid the lingering strike.

The committee chairman, Prof. Samuel Edoumiekumo, speaking during the launch of the intellectual property policy document for universities in Abuja stated that the call was necessary given the effects of the strike on both students and institutions.

"We plead that drastic action is taken to stem the haemorrhage that the system is currently witnessing. For the sake of our children and our society, we need the decision", he stated.

Providing information on the policy document, Edoumiekumo disclosed that the journey began in 2020 when the Nigerian Copyright Commission and the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities metro compare notes on possible areas of collaboration.

"Intellectual property became the focal point of the deliberation given its essential role in the academic operations of universities in particular and the principal role of ideas in a knowledge-driven economy and society.

"Over the years, there have been several attempts by the Copyright Commission, which is the regulatory body, to ensure that academic institutions properly codify their intellectual property policies to conform with the World Intellectual Property format.

"The CVCNU recognised this as a significant venture and worked with the NCC to develop a model intellectual property policy upon which universities that do not currently have one can build.

"The model policy document went through six stages of preparation. It conforms with the World Intellectual Property Organisations (WIPO) format on IP policy development and contains clauses that clearly state the ownership of ideas and inventions that are developed with resources from the universities and the rights of use.

“It clarifies issues relating to research contracts, incentives, rewards and compensation for intellectual property that arise from its commercialisation.

"It advises on how to maintain IP assets and resolve conflicts of interests, conflicts of commitments, and other disputes.

"A vital part of the draft document is how to accommodate the Expression of Folklore, Traditional Knowledge and Genetic Resources in our IP policy document", he added.