The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), will hold crucial talks with the Federal Government with a viewing to addressing the issues raised by the striking lecturers. ASUU said it would honour invitation from the Federal Government to resume the suspended talks tomorrow on the on-going strike and its demands.
ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, said the union had received invitation for the meeting and will act accordingly. Prof Ogunyemi said: “Yes, we are in receipt of the invitation by government and will honour it.”
Those expected at tomorrow’s meeting, aside ASUU delegation, include Minister of Education, Minister of Finance, Chairman, National Income Salaries and Wages Commission (NSIWC), Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC) and the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC). The strike by ASUU entered the third week, even as the non academic staff unions are planning to down tools over similar issues.
Vigil360 learnt that the all non-teaching staff unions of Nigerian public universities have resolved to embark on an indefinite strike from September 11.
The Joint Action Committee, JAC, of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU; Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, NASU; and the National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, announced the strike on Wednesday. The unions accused the federal government of non implementation of the 2009 signed agreements, as well as the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
At a press conference in Abuja, the chairman of JAC who is also the President of SSANU, Samson Ugwoke, explained reasons for their decisions. Mr. Ugwoke said the nationwide strike would be total and comprehensive.
“During the strike, there shall be no provision of services, no matter how skeletal. Concessions shall not be granted while all our members are to stay at home till further notice, unless as directed by JAC through their respective presidents,” he said.
