ASUU Strike: Fresh Update Emerges As Gov’t React

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke is expected to address a news conference today (Monday) on the outcome of the union’s NEC meeting.

Naija News reports that the academic union began a two-day meeting at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Saturday.

The meeting, however, went on till Monday morning and yet parents, students and the public have been kept in suspense.

However, while there is so much tension over an alleged bid by ASUU to commence a one-month warning strike, the Federal Government has said meetings have been scheduled to avert the industrial action.

Reports obtained by Naija News on Monday morning revealed that the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission have scheduled a meeting for today (Monday).

The government also plans another meeting with ASUU leaders during the week to resume talks on the lecturers’ demands.

Recall that the lecturers had asked Nigerians to blame President Muhammadu Buhari government if its union embark on another strike.

ASUU accused the government of failing to fulfil its promises as agreed on in the last dialogue.

Efforts by journalists on Sunday night to get details from Education Minister, Adamu Adamu, however, proved abortive.

Naija News understands that the calls placed to Adamu’s mobile number were not returned as of press time, more also the minister was yet to reply to text messages sent to him.

However, Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, confirmed today’s meeting at the Education Ministry in Abuja.

The Minister told journalists that a representative of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment would attend the meeting and give the ministry updates.

Ngige said: “The Federal Ministry of Education FMoE is calling them to a meeting this week. I have had interactions with the education minister (Adamu Adamu).

“The meeting will be attended by the National Universities Commission and other relevant government side.

“The Ministry of Finance will also attend the meeting. The re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement has financial input so finance will be attending the meeting.

“They are doing Education ministry meeting tomorrow. The ministry will invite ASUU leadership either Wednesday or Thursday to the education ministry. Everybody will be doing something.”

The minister also said he has communicated the feedback on the integrity test conducted by National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on the University Transparency Accountability Solutions – the payment platform developed by university lecturers.

The minister added that the feedback of ASUU has also been communicated back to NITDA, adding that both sides would meet to iron out the grey areas identified in the payment platform.

He said: “We have communicated to NITDA. NITDA detected deficiencies in their system in the 500 items tested and they have notified us of the items that didn’t pass their test and we have communicated the same to ASUU.

“ASUU has replied which we have forwarded back to NITDA and asked NUC and NITDA to invite them (ASUU) to sit down; the two technical teams will sit down and iron out the things.”

According to Ngige, ASUU is not fair to his side as a conciliator.

Meanwhile, The Nation had reported that it learnt ASUU during the course of the two-day meeting in Lagos, changed venues from the Ade Ajayi main auditorium to Tayo Aderinokun Auditorium over fears that the initial venue was bugged by government agents.