Strike Averted: Details of Meeting Between Federal Government and ASUU

 

The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) concluded a closed-door meeting on Wednesday, agreeing to amicably resolve all contentious issues to avert a potential strike.

Meeting Details

The meeting, held at the Ministry of Education headquarters in Abuja, began at approximately 4:30 pm and lasted over two hours. Key attendees included Education Ministers Prof. Tahir Mamman and Dr. Yusuf Sununu, along with other top officials from the ministry.

ASUU's Position

ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, led the union’s delegation and informed the media that negotiations had commenced. He expressed hope that the government would follow through on the agreements reached during the meeting.

“We have discussed all the issues and assigned tasks to certain individuals to find a way forward,” Osodeke stated. He also mentioned that the union would brief its members on the meeting details.

Despite the union's two-week ultimatum for the government to address their demands, Osodeke emphasized the importance of the initiated negotiation process. He highlighted the need to resolve issues for the benefit of students and the nation.

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Government's Response

Prof. Tahir Mamman, Minister of Education, assured that consultations would begin immediately to address the problems facing the education sector.

“We had a very productive meeting, discussing progress and ensuring the system works well. We inherited some issues and are tackling ongoing ones. We have a consensus on the way forward and will continue consultations to resolve the challenges in Nigeria's education system,” Mamman said.

Background and Issues

ASUU had threatened a nationwide strike due to the Federal Government's failure to meet its demands. The union's primary issues include:

• Removal from IPPIS (Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System)
• Renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement
• Payment of backlogs of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA)
• Resolution of outstanding salaries

Conclusion

The Federal Government and ASUU's commitment to continued dialogue and resolution of these issues aims to prevent disruptions in Nigeria’s university system, ensuring a stable and effective educational environment.