INTEL: WORDS FROM THE SENATE DURING FG/ASUU MEETING

Earlier, at the end of their meeting, both ASUU and the Senate
President did not agree to call off the strike after the union had
presented its position before Senator Mark, although the union
expressed optimism that the intervention of the Senate might bring a...

lasting solution to the crisis.
Speaking in an interview after a closed-door session with the Senate,
ASUU President, Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge said the meeting was convened at
the instance of the Senate and that after presenting their position,
the union was waiting for the Senate's reaction to their position.
When asked whether the closed door meeting was conclusive, Dr. Fagge
whose answer was in the negative, however, said that the intervention
by the Senate President was a welcome development to get the crisis
sorted out for the universities to be re-opened and that the union was
waiting for the outcome.
Senate President, David Mark said: "As you are aware, I have been
mandated by the Senate to meet with you and the Federal Government to
resolve this crisis as soon as possible so that the children will go
back to the classrooms and I believe that is what you also want.
"So we are on the same wave length, just a matter of approach to get
it right. I sympathise with your cause and I believe whatever can be
done for you to go back to your work should be done and as quickly as
possible.
"I think this is long overdue for us to sort out. So, the intervention
as you may know, the Senate mandated me to talk to both ASUU and talk
with Mr. President and that is precisely what am doing.
"At the end of the day, it is not how long we dragged this matter that
is important but how soon we sort it out. We will sort it out so that
there will be no winner, no loser.
"It is not a matter of ego, it is not a matter of who has an upper
hand or who has won in this dispute. National interest is what is at
stake. Our students have been out of classrooms for four months now
and that is not in the best interest of anybody.
"We are not happy about it, the parents are not happy and the
government is not happy. So if something is going on and we are not
happy about it the proper thing is to have it resolved as quickly as
possible."
ASUU President, Dr. Fagge said, "Members of ASUU are not just
lecturers. We are also parents and also among us we have students who
are pursuing post-graduate degrees so this strike directly affects us
negatively."