Strike: FG, ASUU reach accord on contentious issues

The possibility of the Academic Staff Union of Universities calling off their strike was revealed late on Thursday as the leadership of the lecturers and a team of the Federal Government gave indications they were making progress in their talks.
This came to the fore after over 12 hours of talks between the leadership of ASUU and the Federal Government team led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige.
The meeting, which began around 1.30pm, ended around 11pm.
While the President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, led the team of university lecturers to the meeting, others who joined Ngige on the side of the Federal Government were the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu; and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwuka.
Ogunyemi said after the meeting that the dialogue yielded “a concrete proposal”, but the union would have to reach its members for a decision.
“Now we have some concrete proposal that we will take back to our members for consideration.”
Adamu equally said the demands of the union had been met and that it would call off its strike within a week.
Earlier, Adamu had identified the contentious issues as earned academic allowances and the revitalisation of public universities.
He said: “Most of the issues between the government and the union have already been dealt with.
“The two most important and contentious issues are the earned allowances and the revitalisation of university system.
“We have already reached an agreement on one and we hope to reach an agreement on the other.”
Ngige also said: “We last met on August 17 and we agreed you would get back to your members and you would give us your proposal.
“Between then and now, a lot of things have happened and some contacts and meetings were held between you and the Minister of Education.
“Some appreciable and tangible results were achieved.
“We are convening this meeting with this in mind: to smooth the rough edges and enable you to call off this strike, which will be one month in a matter of days.
“This will not augur well for the academic calendar of universities.
“We want to address and break down the areas of mistrust between us.”
Ogunyemi, in response, said: “Once we are able to resolve the contentious issues, we are willing to go back to our members in earnest and take the final decision on this action.”
ASUU embarked on strike on August 14.