There are indications that the on-going strike embarked upon by the
Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities might be called off next
Thursday.
Governor of Benue State, Mr Gabriel Suswam who dropped this hint Friday
said ASUU and the Federal Government had reached agreements on all the
contentious issues that led to the industrial action except two.
Suswam who was appointed as Chairman of the Needs Assessment
Implementation Committee of the Federal Government said after next
Thursday’s deliberations between his Committee and the various agencies
of government funding tertiary education, all the contentious issues would
likely be resolved.
Speaking to news men in Abuja after attending a meeting between the
Federal Government’s delegation and ASUU, Suswam said that agreements
had been reached by both parties on all issues except two.
Said he: “We reached agreements on all issues except two. These two
issues are those of earned allowances of lecturers and intervention for
the federal universities. These are the only issues that are still
outstanding.”
The Benue Governor further said he believed that by next week after his
Committee would have arrived at an agreement on all the issues, ASUU
would call off the strike.
He continued: ”The SGF would meet with the leadership of ASUU on the
issue of earned allowances by next Monday.
Then my committee which is dealing with the issue of the needs assessment
of the universities would meet again next Thursday and take another look
at all the infrastructural deficits which the federal universities are facing.
If you go to our universities, you would agree that they are facing
infrastructural deficits and that is why my committee would meet with all
the funding agencies next Thursday for the purpose of prioritizing all the
projects that need to be executed. We are going to invite all the agencies
that are involved in the funding of the universities including the Central
Bank of Nigeria.”
Suswam further stated that the issues on agreements have been reached
include: those of retirement age for university lecturers- which has now
been increased from 65 to 70 years; the constitution of the governing
councils of the universities which has already been done by the
Government; the setting up of a pension administrator and the issue of
persuading companies operating in the country to set up research centers in
the universities.
Said he: “As far as I am concerned, if the issues concerning intervention
and earned allowances are resolved next week, then the strike could be
called off”
Among those who attended the meeting were Secretary to the
Government of the Federation Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Minister of
Labour, Hon. Emeka Wogu, Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayatu Rufai and
President of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Nasir
Fagge.

www.vanguardngr.com/2013/07/ASUU-may-call-off-strike-next-thursday/#

Nice development

Fvcking politicians.... Don't even listen to them