FG-ASUU meeting yields no result
The meeting between the federal government and striking workers of Nigeria’s universities ended yesterday with no positive result
What was the objective of the meeting?
The FG had hoped to use the meeting to prevail on the striking workers to call off their strike while efforts are being made to resolve the dispute. The striking Unions, however, refused to yield to the government’s plea to end the strike, insisting that there was nothing on the ground from the government side to warrant ending the industrial action.
How many unions were there?
There are four of them that are currently on strike. They include the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational Institutions (NASU),” and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT). The meeting was also attended by identified interest groups and Civil society organizations.
What are the two sides saying now?
Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari appealed to the striking workers to sheathe their swords and return to work while discussions over their demands go on. The unions, however, rejected the plea. On their part, ASUU said enough time had been given to the government and its agencies to meet with them and to address their demands, but to no avail.
