ASUU MAY CALL OFF STRIKE ON THE 1ST OF AUGUST

There are indications that the on-going strike embarked upon by the
Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities might be called off next
Thursday.
Governor of Benue State, Mr Gabriel Suswam who dropped this hint
Friday said ASUU and the Federal Government had reached...
agreements on
all the contentious issues that led to the industrial action except
two.
Suswam who was appointed as Chairman of the Needs Assessment
Implementation Committee of the Federal Government said after next
Thursday's deliberations between his Committee and the various
agencies of government funding tertiary education, all the
contentious issues would likely be resolved.
Speaking to news men in Abuja after attending a meeting between the
Federal Government's delegation and ASUU, Suswam said that agreements
had been reached by both parties on all issues except two.
Said he: "We reached agreements on all issues except two. These two
issues are those of earned allowances of lecturers and intervention
for the federal universities. These are the only issues that are still
outstanding."
The Benue Governor further said he believed that by next week after
his Committee would have arrived at an agreement on all the issues,
ASUU would call off the strike.
He continued: "The SGF would meet with the leadership of ASUU on the
issue of earned allowances by next Monday.
Then my committee which is dealing with the issue of the needs
assessment of the universities would meet again next Thursday and
take another look at all the infrastructural deficits which the
federal universities are facing.
If you go to our universities, you would agree that they are facing
infrastructural deficits and that is why my committee would meet with
all the funding agencies next Thursday for the purpose of prioritising
all the projects that need to be executed. We are going to invite all
the agencies that are involved in the funding of the universities
including the Central Bank of Nigeria."
Suswam further stated that the issues on agreements have been reached
include: those of retirement age for university lecturers- which has
now been increased from 65 to 70 years; the constitution of the
governing councils of the universities which has already been done by
the Government; the setting up of a pension administrator and the
issue of persuading companies operating in the country to set up
research centres in the universities.
Said he: "As far as I am concerned, if the issues concerning
intervention and earned allowances are resolved next week, then the
strike could be called off"
Among those who attended the meeting were Secretary to the
Government of the Federation Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Minister of
Labour, Hon. Emeka Wogu, Ministerof Education, Prof. Ruqayatu Rufai
and President of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr
Nasir Fagge