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ASUU strike continues as FG and union fail to resolve issues

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Expectations that the Thursday meeting between Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government may bring an end to the ongoing strike by the union were dashed as both parties failed to resolve contending issues.

The meeting which was the first the Federal Government will be having with the union since they embark on strike over a week ago took place at the Ministry of Labour and Employment office in Abuja.

The negotiation started at about 3pm and lasted till 9pm. It was adjourned till next week after the two sides failed till to reach a middle ground.

The discussion at the meeting as learnt, was centered on the review of the seven points in the Memorandum of Action signed in September 2017, which ASUU accused government of not fulfilling.

While national president of ASUU, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, led the union’s delegation, the Federal Government had present at the meeting the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono; and the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris.

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Speaking earlier during a brief session with newsmen before the meeting retired into a closed-door session, Ngige had apologised that “talks with the academic union are coming a bit late because we have been having negotiations on the new minimum wage.”

He added, “The government appeals to ASUU to put the interest of the students first because they are at the receiving end of the consideration.”

Among issues contained in the 2017 Memorandum of Action that was reviewed by the two parties are “funding for revitalisation of universities; earned academic allowances; staff schools; pension matters; salary shortfalls, Treasury Single Account exemption; and state universities.”

ASUU president, who spoke to newsmen after the meeting, said the meeting had been adjourned to next week and that “no date has been fixed for next week but we will communicate the date to you tomorrow (Friday).

“The union was forced to go on strike because our plea for the implementation of the 2017 Memorandum of Action fell on deaf ears. Our meeting with the Minister of Education (Adamu Adamu) in May and September 2018 to remind him of the Federal Government’s promises to implement the agreement yielded no result.”

By Ebere Ndukwu …

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