ASUU Strike May End In Days

Strong indications have emerged that the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, may end in the next one week, following a 13-hour meeting than ran from Monday afternoon into the early hours of Tuesday, between the union and the federal government.

The meeting which was led by President Goodluck Jonathan, had the leadership of ASUU, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, all present, with sources saying after the meeting that both the Federal Government and leaders of ASUU had shifted grounds and leaders of ASUU would meet with its National Executive Council to brief members on the outcome of the meeting and then take necessary action.

“Both the Federal Government and the leadership of ASUU are now on the same page. Both parties have shifted grounds. The leadership of ASUU will now meet with its appropriate organ to brief its members and take the necessary action.

“ASUU is in the right position to inform the public after meeting with its organ. However, I can tell you that all things being equal, the strike should be over in the next one week,” a source told Vanguard.

The meeting between the government and the labour leaders started at about 2:30pm on Monday and ended at about 3:30am on Tuesday with a 15 minutes break.

Speaking after the meeting, National President of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge, told newsmen that his delegation was taking back a message from President Jonathan to their members.

He however declined to disclose what the message was and when asked whether he was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting, the ASUU leader told journalists not to put words in his mouth.

“We have had a lengthy meeting with Mr. President, rubbing minds on how best to address the problem of university education in this country.

“We now have a message from Mr. President that we are going to take to our members and we are expecting that our members will respond appropriately to his message,” Fagge said.