There are strong indications that the Federal Government will strike a deal with the striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities on Monday (today), with a view to ensuring that the students return to the classrooms as soon as possible.
President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday morning met with Vice President Namadi Sambo; the supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike; and his Labour and Productivity counterpart, Chief Emeka Worgu, in his office at the State House, Abuja.
The closed door meeting, which lasted for about one and half hours, started at 10am.
The Eagle Online gathered it was preliminary talks ahead of the scheduled meeting with ASUU officials later in the day.
After the meeting, Wike confirmed that the President will meet with ASUU officials later in the day but could not confirm the time.
Meanwhile, ASUU officials are also scheduled to meet with the leadership of the National Assembly, led by Senate President, David Mark.
It is expected that ASUU officials will move to the Presidential Villa to meet with Jonathan and his lieutenants after the meeting with the lawmakers.
A source in the Presidency expressed optimism that “now that Mr. President is ready to sit with ASUU and discuss, I am confident that government will reach an amicable resolution with the striking teachers today”.
The striking lecturers are demanding among other things the provision of huge amount to upgrade infrastructure in the nation’s universities as well as payment of all outstanding allowances due to them.
They have been off the classrooms for more than four months now.
It will be recalled that in September, Sambo took over negotiation with ASUU from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.
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