ASUU Strike To Continue

The ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities has no end-in-sight as Federal Government failed to reach an agreement with the union.

After a meeting which was held on Monday at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, both the union's representatives and the Federal Government could not come to an agreement as the lecturers insist on the earned allowance.

Federal Government agreed to release N130 billion for the infrastructural development and pending allowances in various government universities.

After four hours of negotiation, Chairman of te Presidential Universities Needs Implementation Committee and Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, said in Abuja that negotiation would continue.

"The Federal Government has been able to harness about N100 billion, which Mr. President has agreed. That will flag off the project and starting from first week of September in virtually all the universities. The process of achieving that is ongoing at the centre, and due process for it at various universities.

"The infrastructure deficit will be addressed like hostels, labs and libraries. Some will be renovated while others will be brand new. Every university will be affected and each of the hostels will accommodate 1,200 students," Governor Suswam said.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim said that all issues have been met by the government except the unpaid allowances and added that the Federal Government had agreed to release N30 billion for that purpose which must be paid according to the verifiable claims by each University Council.

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala insisted that the Federal Government has no N92 billion to give the striking lecturers.

ASUU President, Nasir Fagge said the union will not shift grounds, insisting that the Federal Government should honour the 2009 agreement and pay the N92 billion allowance.

"The union is talking about the implementation of 2009 agreement and not renegotiation. If you remember the objective of going on strike is to get government to implement the 2009 ASUU and FG, particularly to implement the provisions of the memorandum of understanding we reached with the government in 2012," ASSU President said.