The much awaited meeting between the federal government, pro-chancellors and vice chancellors of federal universities aimed at finding lasting solutions to the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, took place yesterday at the National Universities Commission, NUC, Abuja
The meeting had almost all vice chancellors and prochancellors of various federal universities across the country in attendance.
Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu,in his remark before the meeting entered into close door, explained that the federal government was doing all its best to ensure universities are back to academic activities
He said that they have followed the directive of Mr President Muhammadu Buhari, which is that while the unions should be persuaded to return to work, Government should not repeat the past mistakes of accepting to sign an agreement it will be unable to implement.
He said that government should not, in the guise of resolving current challenges, sow seeds for future disruptions as is happening now.
Adamu said that with all the unions, especially with ASUU, one major issue over which Government and the Unions could not reach amicable agreement was the issue of the law on “No work, No pay” as the Government has made it clear that it would not break the law.
He thanked all the Unions which made the sacrifice of understanding the position of Government on the matter.
Some of the demands of the ASUU include funding for revitalisation of public universities; payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA)/Earned Allowances (EA); payment of salary shortfalls; stop the proliferation of state universities by governors; setting up of Visitation Panels.
Others are renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as a payment platform for university lecturers and payment of withheld salaries and non-remittance of check – off dues.
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