In a bid to avert a looming strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), representatives of the Federal Government and ASUU are currently engaged in a closed-door meeting. The meeting, which commenced at 4:30 pm in the office of the Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, aims to address unresolved issues within the university system.
ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, leading the union’s delegation, emphasized the urgency of resolving these issues to prevent disruption in the academic calendar.
He stated, “There are a lot of issues that are outstanding within the system and we believe that before now, they would have been taken care of.” Osodeke reiterated ASUU’s commitment to finding a resolution, recalling President Bola Tinubu’s promise to address these issues promptly.
Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, highlighted that ASUU had previously communicated several concerns affecting universities to the Ministry. He stressed the need for constructive dialogue to prevent any potential strike action by the union.
The closed-door meeting, which is ongoing at the time of this report, signifies a critical juncture in negotiations between ASUU and the Federal Government.
ASUU had earlier issued a two-week ultimatum to the government to meet its demands, failing which the union threatened to embark on a nationwide strike.