ASUU Speaks� on Fresh Demands from FG

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged the Federal Government to show concrete evidence of commitment to agreements on meeting its demands over the on-going strike

Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU President, said in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday that the union would communicate its decision on offers made by the government on Tuesday.

Ogunyemi said that contrary to some media reports, the union did not reject the offer of Federal Government or make fresh demands.

He, however, said that ASUU had shown a lot of commitment and called on the government to commit itself by paying one year’s tranche of allowances before the strike can be called off.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, after meeting with the union on Jan. 4 said the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant- General of the Federation had provided evidence of N15.4 billion for the payment of salary shortfall in public universities.

He also noted that there was evidence that Mr President had approved N20 billion to offset the outstanding arrears of the 2009 and 2012, audit verified earnings in the university system.

Ngige, however, said the fund was being worked on and would be released to ASUU as soon as the process was complete, among other demands of the union.