The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)'s
National President, Biodun Ogunyemi yesterday gave the conditions for
calling off its strike. It said only a speedy and positive response from the
Federal Government to its letter would end the dispute.
Ogunyemi
said the letter dated August 28 bears the unions position on what the
government is offering in respect of the issues at stake.
Ogunyemi
said the letter followed earlier meetings with the officials of the ministries
of Education and Labour and Employment where it was agreed that ASUU should consult
with members and “revert back to the federal government.”
The ASUU
boss identified “registration of Nigerian Universities Pension Management
Company (NUPEMCO), fractionalisation of salaries in federal universities and
underfunding/non – funding of state universities” as issues requiring
resolution between the ASUU and the federal government.
Others
are arrears and implementation of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), release of
fund for revitalisation of the nation’s public universities as spelt out in the
2013 Memorandum of Understanding, guidelines for retirement benefits of
professors in line with the 2009 FGN – ASUU agreement, Treasury Single
Account(TSA) and withdrawal of support for universities’ staff primary schools.
The ASUU
National President lauded Nigerians, particularly students, parents and the
media for their understanding “on the need to speedily address the issues in
the best interest of the university system and overall development of the
nation.”
The union
has been on comprehensive and total strike action on August 13 following what
the lecturers alleged as FG non – implementation of the agreement with the
academic body.
Senator
Ngige dismissed speculations of uncertainty over government negotiation with
the lecturers, saying they were working round the clock to ensure the issues in
dispute are resolved as soon as possible.
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