FG, ASUU SHIFT GROUNDS, STRIKE MAY END IN ONE WEEK

Our next and last update on ASUU/FG should be that "the strike has
been called off", we trust to keep you posted however.

VANGUARD NEWSPAPER:
There are strong indications that the protracted strike by Academic
Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, that has crippled academic
activities for over four months may end in the next one week, Vanguard
has gathered.

Vanguard sources at the Monday night meeting between the Federal
Government led by President Goodluck Jonathan, the leadership of ASUU,
Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria,
TUC, said both the Federal Government and leaders of ASUU had shifted
grounds and leaders of ASUU would meet with its organ (National
Executive Council) to brief members of the outcome and then take
necessary action.
One of the sources told Vanguard: "Both the Federal Government and the
leadership of ASUU are now on the same page. Both parties have shifted
grounds. The leadership of ASUU will now meet with its appropriate
organ to brief its members and take the necessary action.

"ASUU is in the right position to inform the public after meeting with
its organ. However, I can tell you that all things being equal, the
strike should be over in the next one week."
The meeting between the government and the labour leaders started at
about 2:30pm on Monday and ended at about 3:30am on Tuesday with a 15
minutes break.
Fagge, Wogu speak
National President of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge, emerged from the
meeting and curtly told newsmen that his delegation was taking back a
message from President Jonathan to their members.
He declined to disclose what the message was and when asked whether he
was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting, the ASUU leader told
journalists not to put words in his mouth.
He said: "We have had a lengthy meeting with Mr. President, rubbing
minds on how best to address the problem of university education in
this country.
"We now have a message from Mr. President that we are going to take to
our members and we are expecting that our members will respond
appropriately to his message."
The Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, who also attended the
meeting, told journalists after the meeting that certain mileage had
been attained and expressed the hope that the university lecturers
would call off the strike soon.
He said: "The President of ASUU told you that they are going back with
a message from the Federal Government to their members and the message
is full of high expectation and hope.
"Our prayer is that they will come back with a positive outcome. They
might even not come back to meet us. They might take decisions that
will meet your expectations."
According to the Minister, what government brought to the negotiation
table were offers that were in tandem with the 2009 agreements between
it and ASUU, pointing out that since the strike was based on the 2009
agreement, the government did not go beyond that agreement.