The Federal Government is currently holding discussions with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to address the union’s concerns and prevent a nationwide strike. ASUU has been vocal about their dissatisfaction with staff welfare and other administrative matters.
In a bid to resolve these issues, a closed-door meeting was held at the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja. Following the meeting, the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, expressed confidence that the ongoing negotiations would lead to a positive outcome. He assured that the government is committed to addressing the concerns raised by ASUU.
On the other side, ASUU’s President, Professor Emmanuel Osodoke, emphasized that the union is willing to call off the proposed strike if the government takes concrete actions to resolve their grievances. He highlighted that mere promises would not suffice; the union expects tangible results.
The grievances of ASUU include the government’s failure to fulfill several outstanding agreements. These include removing staff from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), renegotiating the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, and settling the backlog of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) and unpaid salaries.
The threat of a nationwide strike looms large as ASUU awaits the government’s response to their demands. The outcome of these negotiations will determine whether the union proceeds with the strike or if an amicable resolution is reached.
