The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have scheduled another meeting for September 6, 2024, to continue their ongoing discussions.
This decision follows a meeting held on Wednesday, August 8, at the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja, aimed at preventing another nationwide strike by ASUU members.
Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, who addressed journalists after the meeting, assured that the concerns of all parties would be taken into account. He urged ASUU members to approach the negotiations with consideration and open-mindedness.
Amidst threats of a new strike, the Minister noted that many of the contentious issues date back to as early as 1981, attributing delays in resolving them to bureaucratic hurdles. He mentioned that some steps already taken by the government to address ASUU’s demands have been stalled by bureaucracy.
“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 implementing that directive. By the time we meet on Monday, some of these issues will be discussed and resolved,” Mamman stated.
He further explained that ASUU’s demands, which include improved welfare, increased funding for universities, and halting the proliferation of new universities across the country, have been ongoing for decades. “Most of the demands of ASUU started in 1981. Virtually every administration has had its fair share of ASUU strikes. However, the President made a commitment during his campaign to find a permanent solution, and his actions so far reflect that promise,” he added.
The upcoming meeting is seen as a critical step towards averting another indefinite strike, with hopes that both sides will find common ground on the long-standing issues.
