ASUU, FG to Meet Wednesday Over Strike Threat
The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will hold a meeting on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, to discuss the union’s planned nationwide strike. This was disclosed by ASUU Vice President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, following a closed-door meeting between ASUU leaders and representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, led by Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman, in Abuja.
“The meeting is over; committees were set up to resolve the IPPIS/EAA and salary areas. The committee is to meet on the 11th next week,” Prof. Piwuna said.
The planned strike comes in response to the Federal Government’s failure to honor a renegotiated agreement from 2009, as decided at ASUU’s National Executive Council meeting held on August 19, 2024, at the University of Ibadan. ASUU’s demands include improvements in university funding and welfare, and an end to the proliferation of universities in Nigeria.
Reacting to the strike threat, the Minister of Education noted that many of the contentious issues date back to as far as 1981. He confirmed that letters of invitation have been sent to ASUU leadership and other relevant organizations, assuring that their grievances are being addressed.
“Most of the issues raised by ASUU are being attended to. For instance, the issue of exit from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) has since been resolved by the President. Bureaucracy is the reason for the delay in the implementation of that directive. But by the time we meet on Monday, some of these issues will be discussed and resolved,” the minister stated.
He added that nearly every administration has faced ASUU strikes, but the President has committed to providing a permanent solution this time. He appealed to the union to approach the negotiation table with a considerate and open-minded stance to ensure that the interests of all parties are well-represented.
The outcome of the meeting could determine whether the strike, which threatens to disrupt academic activities across the country, will proceed.
