ASUU, SENATE, FEDERAL GOVT. MEETING DEADLOCKED!

The negotiations among the Senate, the Federal government and the
leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU over the
ongoing industrial action embarked by universities lecturers ended
without parties reaching any compromise. The meeting which was at the
instance of the chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche
Chukwumerije, PDP Abia North,
was called to pacify the striking
lecturers with a bid to finding a common ground. However, a source at
the meeting revealed that all efforts to push for a call off of the
strike proved abortive as members of ASUU stood their grounds. The
source also said that for well over seven hours, Chukwumerije was
literarily on his knees pleading with the lecturers to consider the
plights of the students and call off the strike, but ASUU members
refused to shift ground. The meeting had in attendance, Secretary to
the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim,
Minister of Education, Professor Ruquayyatu Rufai; Executive
Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC, Professor Julius
Okojie and members of the Senate Committee on Education,among others.