The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have agreed to reconvene for another round of negotiations on September 6, 2024.
This decision comes after a meeting held on Wednesday at the Federal Ministry of Education, led by the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, and representatives from ASUU.
This upcoming meeting follows a resolution passed during ASUU’s national executive council meeting at the University of Ibadan on August 19, 2024. The lecturers had expressed their intention to initiate a nationwide strike over the Federal Government’s failure to implement the 2009 renegotiated agreement.
The union’s demands primarily focus on better welfare for lecturers, increased funding for public universities, and halting the unchecked establishment of new universities across the country.
Professor Mamman, while addressing the media, acknowledged that most of the grievances raised by ASUU were longstanding, with some issues dating back to 1981. He stated that the government had already started addressing several of these concerns, including resolving the union’s request to exit the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
However, he mentioned that delays in implementation were largely due to bureaucratic processes. The minister assured that more issues would be discussed and hopefully resolved during the meeting scheduled for Monday, September 6.
“Most of the issues raised by ASUU are being attended to. For instance, the issue of exit from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) has since been resolved by the President. Bureaucracy is the reason for delay in the implementation of that directive. But by the time we meet on Monday, some of these issues would be discussed and resolved”.
“Most of the demands of ASUU started in 1981. And virtually all government has had its fair share of ASUU strike. But the President made a commitment during the campaign that permanent solution would be provided this time, and he has shown that in his steps and actions,” he said.
