Strike: Nigerian govt meets ASUU, parties set up committee to review demands

The Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) met on Wednesday to avert another strike in the nation’s universities.

ASUU on August 19 issued a 21-day strike notice to the federal government over some of its demands.

The union is demanding a comprehensive overhaul of the university system, including improved infrastructure, enhanced academic freedom, and a more sustainable funding model.

Other demands are the release of revitalisation funds for universities, renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, release of earned allowances for university lecturers, and deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).

At the end of a meeting on Wednesday, both parties agreed to set up a sub-committee to review ASUU’s demands while the government promised to ensure lasting solutions to the crisis.

The meeting which lasted about two- and- half hours was at the instance of the Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, and had in attendance the leadership of ASUU led by its President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke.

The minister, who briefed journalists at the end of the closed-door meeting, said both parties agreed to reconvene on September 6.

He said a sub-committee had been set up to review the demands of the union and ensure that all grey areas were ironed out and resolved

On his part, the ASUU President expressed the hope that all issues would be resolved before the September 6 meeting.

Osodeke said: “We have met to discuss all the issues and review them. We have given the government between now and the next meeting to see what they have to do.

“We believe in the interest of the Nigerian child and we will be protecting their interest if the issues are resolved.”

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