ASUU Strike To End Soon As FG Reopens Negotiations

The Federal Government, yesterday, disclosed that it has entered into fresh negotiation with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, in a bid to end the strike action embarked on by the university lecturers. Disclosing this yesterday, when he briefed the Bamanga Tukur-led leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Working Committee, NWC, on the activities of his ministry, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu noted that the government had serious issues 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. “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,” Wogu said. 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, establishment of NUPEMCO and progressive increase in annual budgetary allocation to education to 26 percent between 2009 and 2020. They also agreed on payment of earned allowances, 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. The government team in the negotiation, according to the Federal Government, was being led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.