The Federal Government, parents and students were kept in suspense Sunday night by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Representatives of the union met at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, to take a position on a planned national strike over ‘some yet-to-be-met’ demands by their employers.
The meeting did not come up with a final resolution on whether or not to proceed with a strike.
But, in move to avert another strike by the lecturers, the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission have scheduled a meeting for Monday, February 14, 2022
The government also, as reported, had planned another meeting with ASUU leaders during the week to resume talks on the lecturers’ demands.
Discussions between the union and the Education ministry broke down, following the alleged failure of the government to give feedback on the re-negotiated FG-ASUU 2009 agreement.
Education Minister, Adamu Adamu, could not be reached Sunday night for comments on efforts being made by the government to avert another strike by ASUU.
But Labour and Employment Minister, Dr Chris Ngige, confirmed Monday’s meeting at the Education ministry in Abuja.
Ngige said a representative of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment would attend the meeting and give the ministry updates.
Ngige said: “The Federal Ministry of Education FMoE is calling them to a meeting this week. I have had interactions with the education minister (Adamu Adamu).
“The meeting will be attended by the National Universities Commission and other relevant government side.
“The Ministry of Finance will also attend the meeting. The re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement has financial input so finance will be attending the meeting.
“They are doing Education ministry meeting tomorrow. The ministry will invite ASUU leadership either Wednesday or Thursday to the education ministry. Everybody will be doing something.”
The minister also said he had communicated the feedback on the integrity test conducted by National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on the University Transparency Accountability Solutions – the payment platform developed by university lecturers.
The minister added that the feedback of ASUU had also been communicated back to NITDA, adding that both sides would meet to iron out the grey areas identified in the payment platform.
He said: “We have communicated to NITDA. NITDA detected deficiencies in their system in the 500 items tested and they have notified us of the items that didn’t pass their test and we have communicated the same to ASUU.
“ASUU has replied which we have forwarded back to NITDA and asked NUC and NITDA to invite them (ASUU) to sit down; the two technical teams will sit down and iron out the things.
“ASUU is not fair to my side as a conciliator.”
ASUU President Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke is billed to address a news conference on Monday on the outcome of the union’s NEC meeting which began at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) over the weekend. (With report by The Nation)
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
