The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government has again ended another round of meeting without an agreement. This means the six-month old strike by public university lecturers is set to continue.The striking lecturers had met with the Professor Nimi Briggs Committee on Tuesday at the National University Commission in Abuja with high hopes of resolving the impasse. One of the members of ASUU, who craved anonymity told said that members of the Briggs renegotiation committee did not come with any new offer on the table Instead, the committee pleaded with the lecturers to suspend the ongoing strike, with promises that their concerns will be included in the 2023 budget.

According to the source, the meeting, which started at about 12pm, lasted for about three hours without any agreement reached.

The ASUU member insisted that unless there demands are met at least up to 80%, the Union will not suspend the strike.

The academics are seeking improved welfare, revitalisation of public universities and academic autonomy among other demands.One bone of contention for the academics is the non-payment of university revitalisation funds, which amounts to about N1.1 trillion.But the Federal Government has said it doesn’t have the money to pay such an amount, citing low oil prices during the Muhammadu Buhari administration.The agreement was struck in 2009.Another is the issue of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).The academics have proposed an alternative payroll system, the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) which has been tested and proven to be a good alternative.

https://www.satellite.ng/2022/08/16/ASUU-reveals-when-strike-will-end-as-meeting-with-fg-deadlocks/

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