‘Meeting fruitful’; FG, ASUU reach compromise, reconvene September 6

by Joseph Erunke, Abuja

The meeting between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, ended today with both parties declaring it as fruitful.

However, the parties told newsmen after the meeting that they would reconvene on September 6, to review progress made so far in the decisions reached.

However, they were evasive on issues addressed during the meeting that lasted nearly two hours.

Education Minister

Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, addressing the media, said the meeting resolved that ASUU leadership would take decisions reached to members and return with feedback on the next adjourned date.

Also, within the two-week window, the government is expected to act on some agreements reached at the meeting.

Prof. Mamman said, “We have had a very fruitful discussion. We have worked out modalities on how to make progress with them.

“So the task before us now is to work on those modalities to solving the problems.

“So we are coming back again, reconvening on the 6th of September, to report back progress, towards the resolution of the issues.

“This is basically what we have agreed on.”

ASUU …

On the other hand, ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said: “Actually, we have met to discuss all the issues and what they (government) have done between the last time we met and today.

“We have reviewed them and agreed that let also give the government between now and our next meeting, to see what they would have done on these issues.

“So, we are meeting again on the 6th of September.

“And hopefully, we hope that in the interest of Nigerian students and Nigeria as a country, these issues should be amicably resolved, so that we can have a very smooth academic system in the country, Nigeria.”

Asked to explain what issues were discussed and the agreement reached, both parties refused to speak further.

The meeting came following recent threat by the university lecturers’ union to down tools over the alleged federal government’s failure to meet its demands.

It is aimed at preventing another nationwide strike in the nation’s public universities.

Delegates

The federal government’s delegation was led by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, while ASUU representatives to the meeting that took place at the conference hall of the Federal Ministry of Education, were Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke and all executive members of the union.

Others in the delegation of ASUU were the former past presidents of ASUU, led by the immediate past president, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi.