We’re Yet To Take A Decision On The Strike- ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has refuted news reports claiming that it has agreed to call off the ongoing strike after meeting with the Government negotiation team led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige on Friday.

Eko Hot Blog gathered that following another meeting between the two parties held at the meeting at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Federal Government reportedly increased its offer for Earned Allowances to university based unions and funding for the revitalization of public universities from ₦65 billion to ₦70 billion.

In the light of this new development, news reports had surfaced that ASUU had finally decided to suspend the 9 month old industrial action.

It was further reported that the Government agreed to settle the arrears of salaries of the lecturers before December 31.

The report also noted that ASUU was expected to communicate the agreement to its branches and then relay their decision to the government.

READ ALSO: ASUU Agrees To Call Off Strike

It quoted a source within the university union, that ASUU insisted that the agreement to call off the strike should not be announced until it has been approved by its members.

But ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, has dismissed claims that the union has already taken a decision to suspend the strike.

”I am not aware of that. All I know is that we had a meeting and we are going to report to our members. But I don’t know about suspension of strike” he said.

However, a source in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, said that after the meeting, the Minister, Senator Ngige, who described the meeting as “fruitful,” added that the government made a proposal to ASUU which it would take back to its members.

Ngige had told journalists after the meeting that, “Many issues were discussed at the meeting including salary shortfall, the payment system and revitalization of the university system. I am positive that all the issues would be resolved at our next meeting.”

Friday’s meeting made it the seventh time both parties have met to resolve the issues in contention since the university union embarked on strike on March 23.

After the meeting of last Friday, November 20, Government agreed to exempt ASUU members who had not enrolled in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and put them on the Government Integrated Financial and Management Information System (GIFMIS) pending when ASUU’s preferred payment platform – the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) will be approved.

ASUU had vehemently rejected IPPIS, stressing that it will quash the autonomy of the university system.