Nigerian Government and University lecturers meeting ends in Deadlock

The meeting between the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU and Representatives of the Federal government has ended in deadlock again.

Responding to Voice of Nigeria on the outcomes of the meeting held on Tuesday in Abuja, the President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke said the meeting yielded no positive outcome.

According to Professor Osodeke, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu  was not present at the meeting held at the National Universities Commission nor did the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed attend the meeting.

He told Voice of Nigeria that, ASUU met with the Professor Nimi Briggs Committee and the Union had expected the government to sign it agreement or present an acceptable compromise but failed to present any progressive position.

The ASUU President however did not disclose the new conditions or terms presented by the Nimi Briggs Committee rather it said it would further address the media on the outcome of the Tuesday meeting.

President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, to resolve the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other university-based unions.

The Federal Government had set up the Briggs-led committee to renegotiate the 2009 Agreement between the government and the university-based unions, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Educational Institutions, NASU and the National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT.

ASUU commenced the ongoing strike on February 14, 2022, following the Federal Government’s failure to meet some of its demands including, the release of revitalisation funds for universities, renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, release of earned allowances for university lecturers, and deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).

Dominica Nwabufo