Strike: FG to continue negotiation with ASUU on Monday

ASUU President, Biodun Ogunyemi

The Federal Government says it will continue the negotiation process with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday to resolve ongoing industrial action embarked by the striking lecturers.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, said this in a statement signed on Saturday in Abuja by Director of Press, in the ministry, Mr Samuel Olowookere.

According to the statement, the meeting is in furtherance to efforts at resolving the on-going industrial action embarked upon by ASUU.

“The Minister of Labour and Employment Sen. Chris Ngige is scheduled to hold a meeting with the Executive of ASUU.

“The conciliatory meeting is scheduled to hold on January 7, at the Minister’s Conference Room by 3:30 pm prompt.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ASUU commenced an indefinite strike on November 5, 2018, over certain demands based on an agreement reached with the government in 2009.

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One of the demands is the replacement of Dr Wale Babalakin as the chairman for the government renegotiating team of the 2009 ASUU/Federal Government Agreement.

Other issues are non-payment of earned allowance, funding of revitalisation of the Nigerian universities, implementation of the needs assessment report, poor funding of state universities, among others.

NAN recalls that as part of efforts by the Federal Government to end the strike, it commenced meetings with ASUU leadership on November 15, 2018, followed by the last one on December 17, 2018 before Christmas break.