The end of nine month long strike action embarked upon by the members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may be around the corner as the representatives of the union and the federal government on Thursday met again in Abuja to continue talks over the strike embarked upon by the academics.
The ASUU strike which started in may has paralysed academics activities in government universities in the whole of Nigeria. The academics are seeking an overhaul of their salary structure and increased funding for universities, among other demands.
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Thursday’s meeting saw the federal government being represented by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed.
The Minister in his opening remarks at the meeting said he expects to hear ASUU’s feedback on the offers the government made in their last meeting.
However, ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi in his response informed the federal government representatives that the union hopes to get more offers from the government to take back to its members. The federal Government has stated that they are ready to release 75 billion naira out of 110 billion ASUU was demanding for the revitalization of Universities and also ready to pay the union all their Earned Academic Allowances.
Two previous meetings scheduled earlier between the FG and ASUU had been postponed as the striking lecturers said they were still consulting.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
