Victor EzejaPresident Muhammadu Buhari has promised that his Government will engage in further consultations with relevant stakeholders to end the seven-month-old strike embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The president stated this on Friday at the State House, Abuja, when he met with the Chairman and select members of Pro-Chancellors of Federal Universities in Nigeria.
The Pro-Chancellors were led to the meeting by Professor Nimi Briggs, who said they had come to meet with the President in three capacities: “As President and Commander-in-Chief, as the father of the nation, and as Visitor to the Federal universities.”
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari said that without necessarily going back on what is already the established policy, “I will make further consultations, and I’ll get back to you.”
The president added that despite the current situation as a result of the industrial action, “the future of the university system in the country is good.” He cited an example of the recent listing of the University of Ibadan among the first 1,000 universities in the world, a development occurring for the first time.
Prof Briggs commended Federal Government for concessions already made to the striking lecturers, including the offer to raise salaries by 23.5% across board, and 35% for Professors. He, however, asked for “further inching up of the salary, in view of the economic situation of the country.”
The Pro-Chancellors also asked for a reconsideration of the No-Work, No-Pay stance of the government, promising that lecturers would make up for time lost as soon as an amicable situation was reached, and schools reopened.
Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Nana Opiah, said all the concessions made by the Federal Government were to ensure that the industrial action comes to an end, but ASUU has remained adamant.
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Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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