There are indications that the Federal Government and university
lecturers have began new talks to end the on-going strike in
universities across the nation. Yesterday, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, announced
that it has entered into fresh negotiation with Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU). Leading the negotiation the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. Wogu speaking to the Bamanga Tukur-led leadership of Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) on the
activities of his ministry said that the government was not comfortable
with the original agreement, which he described as complex. “We have made offer to ASUU. It is as complex as presented.
Negotiation is ongoing. The National Assembly is equally involved,” he
said. “We believe they will soon call off the strike. I personally and passionately appeal to them to call off the strike.” “It will not affect the negotiation if they call off the strike. It
is better for them to be inside than outside. Students have equally
appealed to them.” ”The nine-point agreements ASUU signed with Federal Government were:
funding requirements for revitalisation of Nigerian universities and
Federal Government’s assistance to state universities.” According to reports, they also agreed on payment of earned
allowances, including the establishment of NUPEMCO and progressive
increase in annual budgetary allocation to education to 26 percent
between 2009 and 2020, an amendment of the pension/retirement age of
academics on the professorial cadre from 65 to 70 years, reinstatement
of prematurely dissolved governing councils and transfer of Federal
Government landed property to universities. There was also an agreement on setting up of research development
council and provision of research equipment to laboratories and
classrooms in universities.
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