FG, ASUU to meet today over on-going strike action

Toyin Subair

The Federal Government   is expected to hold another emergency meeting with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU on today, Monday to find a lasting solution to the on-going strike in public universities.

It would be recalled that the last meeting between the ASUU and Federal Government team which was held on November 15 ended in a deadlock as no agreement reached.

It was learnt that today’s  meeting would again focus on  the issues in the 2017 Memorandum of Action,  which the union claimed  the Federal  Government had neglected.

Public universities lecturers began their strike on November 5, saying the Federal Government had failed to implement the key areas of focus contained in the MoA.

As contained in the FG/ASUU 2017 agreement, the issues under contention are the funding of public universities, earned academic allowances, salary shortfalls and pension matters.

According to the President, ASUU, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, the union’s meeting with the Federal Government would take place on Monday.

Ogunyemi said, “There is supposed to be a meeting tomorrow evening (Monday). It all depends on the way government approaches it. If they invite us further, we will go. It also depends on what they put on the table. We met them briefly and we agreed to meet on Monday (today).

“We met with the Minster of Education (Adamu Adamu) on Thursday and it was a short meeting. We have given them our terms. I am not representing myself but those who have given us a clear mandate and we shall abide by the terms.”

The   Federal Government’s delegation led by the  Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige,  in their meeting with  ASUU leaders  on   November 15  appealed  to the union to consider  the interest of the students and end the strike.

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