The Federal Government on Thursday held another
reconciliation meeting with officials of the Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU) in Abuja. After
over eight hours of negotiation, however, there appeared to be no breakthrough.
The meeting comes
after the lecturers’ failed to attend the talks called by the Minister of
Labour and employment Dr. Chris Ngige, last week, saying the union was yet
to conclude its consultations with its members.
In his brief opening remarks before the technical session commenced, the
labour minister gave the assurance that the meeting would address the mistrust
between the workers and the federal government
On his part,
the ASUU president, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, expressed optimism that the
industrial action would be called off if the government showed commitment to
address the concerns raised. Also in attendance were the ministers of
education, the Senior Special Assistance to the President on National Assembly
matters, the NLC president, and the chairman, Income and Salaries and Wages
Commission.
ASUU has been on
strike since August 14, over unpaid arrears and demands for improved
infrastructure in the universities. A reconciliation meeting with the Federal
Government August 17 had failed to resolve the dispute, but fresh undisclosed
offers were made to the lecturers. Another
reconciliation meeting held on August 29 also ended in deadlock, as ASUU
insisted on seeing the government act on their demands.
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