The anticipated meeting between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been postponed from its initial Monday schedule to August 28.
A senior member of ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) confirmed the rescheduling on Monday, stating, “Our meeting with the Federal Government will now hold on August 28.”
The postponement comes on the heels of a nationwide strike threat issued by public university lecturers, following the NEC meeting held on August 19, 2024, at the University of Ibadan. The union is protesting the Federal Government’s failure to implement the 2009 renegotiated agreement, which includes demands for better welfare for university workers, increased funding for universities, and a halt to the proliferation of universities across the country.
Responding to ASUU’s ultimatum, the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, acknowledged that many of the issues raised by ASUU have been longstanding, some dating back to 1981. He reassured that letters of invitation had been sent to ASUU leadership and other relevant organizations, emphasizing that the grievances are being addressed.
“Many of the issues highlighted by ASUU are currently being handled. For instance, the matter concerning exit from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) has already been resolved by the President, though implementation delays are due to bureaucratic processes. By the time we meet on Monday, we expect to discuss and resolve several of these issues,” Mamman explained.
He also appealed to ASUU to approach the negotiation table with an open mind, ensuring that the interests of all parties are adequately represented.
