Strike continues as Federal Govt, ASUU talks

Strike continues as Federal Govt, ASUU talks stalled The strike by university teachers will continue. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the federal government again failed to reach an agreement yesterday. The two sides continued to hold on to their different positions on the crucial issue of funding. Even as the grey areas are yet to be cleared, the Federal Government agreed to release N130 billion to tackle the issues of infrastructural decay and pending allowances in the universities. Chairman of the Presidential Universities Needs Implementation Committee and Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, at the end of about four-hour meeting between the two sides in Abuja told reporters that the negotiation would continue. According to him, progress was made in the area of tackling the infrastructural deficit in the Nigerian universities with the release of N100 billion, which will be distributed next month. He said: “The Federal Government has been able to harness about N100 billion, which Mr. President has agreed. that will flag of the project and starting from the first week of September in virtually all the universities. The process of achieving that is ongoing at the Centre and due process for it at various universities” “The infrastructure deficit will be addressed like hostels, labs and libraries. Some will be renovated while others will be brand new. Every university will be affected and each of the hostel will accommodate 1,200 students.” The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim maintained that all issues have been resolved except the unpaid allowances. He said the Federal Government had agreed to release N30 billion for that purpose which must be paid according to the verifiable claims by each University Council. He reiterated the position of Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, that the N92 billion being demanded by ASUU as wages could not be met. He said the responsibility of settling the pending arrears now rests with the University Councils, who will be supported with N30 billion. ASUU President Nasir Isa Fagge said the team will report back to their National Executive Council (NEC) to decide appropriate response to the Federal Government’s offer. He maintained that ASUU’s position has not shifted from the 2009 agreement. He said: “The union is talking about the implementation of 2009 agreement and not renegotiation. If you remember the objective of going on strike is to get government to implement the 2009 ASUU and FG particularly to implement the provisions of the memorandum of understanding we reached with the government in 2012.” -THE NATION NEWS