…To Reconvene Next Week
By Uche Onyeali, Abuja
Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, hinted of a possible settlement after a meeting following the strike notice issued to the government ended on “fruitful” note in Abuja, yesterday.
AljazirahNigeria reports that the meeting is sequel to a the university lecturers’ threat to down tools over Federal Government’s failure to meet its demands.
The government and ASUU did not reveal issues addressed during the meeting held in Abuja but told journalists that they would reconvene on September 6, to review progress in the decisions reached.
Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, said the meeting resolved that the union’s leadership would brief members and return with feedback when both parties reconvene next week.
Mamman, “We have had a very fruitful discussion. We have worked out modalities on how to make progress with them.
“So the task before us now is to work on those modalities to solving the problems.
“So , we are coming back again, reconvening on the 6th of September, to report back progress, towards the resolution of the issues”.
In addition, ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said the union agreed to give “the government between now and our next meeting, to see what they would have done on these issues.
“So, we are meeting again on September 6.
“And hopefully, we hope that in the interest of Nigerian students and Nigeria as a country, these issues should be amicably resolved, so that we can have a very smooth academic system in the country, Nigeria”.
Mamman, led federal government’ team to the meeting while on the ASUU side were Osodeke, all executive members of the union
as well as former presidents of ASUU, led by the immediate past president, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi.
It would be recalled that ASUU issued a strike notice on the federal government following resolutions reached at the union’s national executive council meeting held at the University of Ibadan on August 19, threatened to go on a nationwide strike over the government’s failure to honour the 2009 renegotiated agreement.
ASUU’s demands include improvements in welfare, university funding, and halting the proliferation of universities across the country.
In response to ASUU’s ultimatum, the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, noted that most of the issues of contention dated as far back as 1981.
He, however, said letters of invitation had been sent to the leadership of the Union and other organisations and that their grievance was being attended to.
“Most of the issues raised by ASUU are being attended to. For instance, the issue of exit from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS, has since been resolved by the President. Bureaucracy is the reason for the delay in the implementation of that directive.
“But by the time we meet on Monday, some of these issues will be discussed and resolved.
“Most of the demands of ASUU started in 1981. Virtually all government have had their fair share of ASUU strikes.
“But the President made a commitment during the campaign that permanent solution would be provided this time, and he has shown that in his steps and actions”, he said.
The Minister further appealed to ASUU to be considerate in their actions and open-minded in their approach at the negotiation table so that the interest of all parties would be properly represented.
