ASUU, FG Meet To Avert Another Strike

The federal government of Nigeria and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will meet on Thursday to review the implementation of agreements reached which led to the suspension of a nine-month old strike by the lecturers.

This was confirmed in a statement by the Deputy Director Press in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr Charles Akpan, who noted that the Minister of Labour, Senator Chris Ngige, will lead the FG’s delegation in the meeting with ASUU.

The government had agreed to release N40 billion as earned allowances to university workers, and N30 billion as revitalization fund to fix dilapidated infrastructure in the institutions.

It also agreed to pay lecturers’ salaries withheld during their nine-month strike.

Also, the FG agreed to set up of new visitation panels for universities among other things.

But the Chairman of ASUU in the University of Ibadan, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, in a statement last week, called on Nigerians to blame the Federal Government if universities go on strike again.

Akinwole noted that the federal government has not fulfilled its promises despite the lecturers suspending the strike on December 24, 2020.

He added that many lecturers are still being owed salaries of between two and 10 months.

It was learnt that as of December 31, 2020, the Federal Government had failed to fulfil three agreements reached with the union.

However, the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government has kicked against the notice by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to embark on a fresh nationwide strike.

Naija News reports that this is coming barely four months after calling off a 9-month industrial action.

Reacting in an interview with The Punch on Sunday, the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, warned that engaging in another strike would be a disservice to students.