In a significant development, a pivotal meeting between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) concluded with a commitment to resolve all contentious issues, thereby averting an imminent strike.
The closed-door meeting took place at the Ministry of Education’s headquarters in Abuja, starting at 4:30 pm and lasting for over two hours.
Key figures, including Education Ministers Prof. Tahir Mamman and Dr. Yusuf Sununu, as well as other top ministry officials from the Federal Government’s team and ASUU President Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, were in attendance.
Following the meeting, Prof. Osodeke expressed optimism, stating that negotiations had commenced and tasks had been assigned to address outstanding matters. He emphasized the government’s responsibility to follow through on agreed-upon actions for the benefit of students and the nation as a whole.
In response to ASUU’s recent ultimatum, Osodeke assured that detailed outcomes would be communicated to union members. He stressed the importance of initiating dialogue after a year-long hiatus and outlined plans for setting deadlines and holding subsequent meetings to monitor progress.
Minister Mamman echoed Osodeke’s sentiments, describing the meeting as productive. He highlighted ongoing consultations to address systemic challenges inherited by the ministry and emphasized the need for collaboration across ministries to achieve sustainable solutions.
This agreement comes at a time when ASUU had threatened a nationwide strike due to the government’s failure to meet previous demands, including issues such as removal from IPPIS, renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, and the settlement of Earned Academic Allowances and outstanding salaries.
Moving forward, both parties are committed to continuous consultations aimed at comprehensively addressing educational challenges in Nigeria.
This development represents a crucial step towards stabilizing university operations and ensuring the well-being of students and educators throughout the country.
