Again, FG, ASUU Talks End in Deadlock

* Buhari orders Ngige to resolve all pending issues

Another meeting between the federal government and striking
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday night ended
without any agreement.

This is coming as President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, to do
everything possible to end the three-month-old strike by university
teachers.

The president of ASUU, Prof. Abiodun Ogunyemi who spoke to
journalists on the outcome of the deadlocked meeting stated that,
“the meeting is not conclusive; so, we are going back to consult
with our members. They gave us their reactions to our proposals but
there are still grey areas we are trying to sort out ; so, until we
finish our consultations you will know our own reaction”.

When asked to state specifically what the grey areas are, the
ASUU president said, “the most critical of all is the
revitalisation fund and this is very central to our work as
academics and unless that area is addressed, members may not accept
to call off the ongoing action,” he said.

Ogunyemi said the lecturers are asking for a minimum of N50
billion to restart the revitalisation fund.

On his part, the chief negotiator, Ngige, said that substantial
progress has been made during last night’s talks.

Ngige who spoke to journalists after the over two hours’ meeting
with ASUU said that the meeting has gotten substantial agreements
in about seven areas although he failed to list those areas.

On whether the federal government has agreed to pay the N50
billion demanded by ASUU, the minister said that the federal
government has only accepted to the amount owed since the previous
administration.

According to Ngige, the federal government has started defraying
the end allowances owed the university teachers, adding that it has
starting releasing N15.4 billion shortfall in payment of
salaries.

He also said the government has agreed to spend some money on
the revitalisation fund irrespective of the fact that the
government had earlier released from TETFUND account about N163
billion.

Ngige stated that “most of the issues have been resolved, they
going back to their people to consult”. On when negotiation is
likely to reconvene, the minister said that it will be at the
instance of ASUU since they have asked to be excused to go and
consult with their members.

Ngige said that contrary to insinuations that the federal
government is weak and not applying its powers to the end the
strike, the government was only trying resolve issues amicably in
order to avoid bringing the whole sector to a halt, especially now
that elections are around the corner.

Meanwhile, President Buhari has ordered Ngige to do everything
possible to end the three-month-old strike by the university
teachers.

Ngige disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday during the
resumed negotiation with the leadership of ASUU.

The statement issued by the Assistant Director, Press at the
ministry, Ms. Rhoda Illiya, said the president told the minister
that the strike must be called off at the end of yesterday’s
meeting.

“Mr. President has directed me to pass the night here until all
issues that have kept our children away from school are resolved
and the strike called off,” Ngige said.

“The president has also directed him to impress upon you, the
imperative of little sacrifice from all sides, knowing full well
that the revenue of the federation has dwindled from what it was
before the present administration assumed office,” Ngige added.

The president, he added, was concerned by the prevailing crisis
in the university system, hence his steady commitment to a
“holistic approach to tackling the rot through adequate funding,
notwithstanding the dwindling accruals.“

“The president told me to assure you of his determination to
reposition our universities as he would do everything possible to
cast the present challenges in our tertiary education to the
dustbin of history,” the minister added.