The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has denied media reports that the union agreed to call off its 8-month old strike action.
There was a bit of relief when news emerged that the strike action has been called off, after the latest meeting between ASUU top echelons and the Federal Government negotiation team, led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, on Friday.
READ: FG offers N65 billion to ASUU, N15 billion revitalization fund to end strike
According to a report from Vanguard, the ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, said he is not aware of any agreement to call off the strike. However, he noted that it was agreed at the meeting that the union would convey government’s message to their various organs and then report back to the government.
Ogunyemi said, “I am not aware of that. All I know is that we had a meeting and we are going to report to our members. But, I don’t know about suspension of the strike.”
READ: FG says it will look at other options if ASUU continues with strike
It was also reported that ASUU reached an agreement with the Federal Government after the latter increased its offer for Earned Allowances and funding for the revitalization of public universities from N65 billion to N70 billion.
However, ASUU in a tweet insisted that the funding should be implemented before the union suspends its strike action.
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https://twitter.com/ASUUNGR/status/1332478609047609347
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What you should know
Nairametrics earlier reported that ASUU had called off its 8-month-long strike. It said that the union took the decision after it agreed to accept government’s total payment of N70 billion and that the payment of their outstanding salaries must not be done through the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS).
ASUU embarked on strike in March 2020, following its disagreement with the Federal Government over the funding of the universities and implementation of the IPPIS, which according to the union, negates the autonomy policy for the universities.
ASUU, however, has its own developed and preferred payment platform, University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), which the government said it is looking into.
Let ASUU continue with the strike, some people are acting as if they are doing students a favour. It’s not even free education after all, we can do better without this self serving mentality.Honestly,we need a change of attitudes to break away from the past else it will be all motion without movement
A government that want the strike called off will not wait till 31 Dec to implement the agreement reached.ASUU and their families have been starved for 9 to 6 months without pay. Yet the minister has not shown any commitment to alleviate this denial. Wickedness everywhere. J
Very selfish group of People who cares only for their pockets. So, you kept our Children at home for 8 months to better your own lot. What did you achieve than money to your pockets.
The FGN should pay all her Employees through IPPIS. Don’t backpedal on that please. An Employee cannot dictate how he or she would be paid by the Employer
They should please them, because we are tired of staying home And watch our education journey tarnished
That is why we are suffering in Nigeria, you have every right to caution an employer.
By the way ASUU members are citizens and should be given their due right
If the Asuu did not call the strike me i will die because we are tired of staying at home we need to become a graduate pls mrt president settle with the Asuu