The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed optimism about the ongoing meeting with Professor Nimi Briggs committee, on Thursday 3rd June. The negotiation has been described as progressive by the National ASUU president, Professor Osodeke since it began last week over the union’s protest. The 2022 ASUU strike began on February 14, 2022, on account of the failure of the Federal Government to meet the Union’s demands which include the deployment of the UTAS ( University Transparency and Accountability Solution), the release of allowances for University lecturers, the re-negotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement and the release of re-vitalized funds for Universities.
A seven-man committee was set up on 7th March 2022 by the Federal Government and they were tasked with re-negotiating the 2009 agreement approved by ASUU, which was headed by the Pro-Chancellor, Alex Ekwueme of Federal University Ndufu-Alike.
Mr. Osodeke was noted to have said: “We are meeting soon and we will be having a follow up. We do not want to publicize our meetings. We want to do it quietly and then tell the public our decision”.
Ahmed Isah, a renowned radio station owner and anchor of the Brekete Family Programme on the radio in Abuja, has stated that he would be crowdfunding for the striking union to resume activities and for students to return to class. He owns the radio station Human Rights Radio and has volunteered to be the mediator between the Federal Government and ASUU.
The Academic Staff Union and other workers in Public Tertiary Institutions have been striking for close to four months. The Federal government has released 34 billion Naira for payment of the minimum wage adjustments from 2019. However, the union has demanded better funding for the nation’s public universities and improved welfare for its members. Till these demands are met, the Union has reiterated that it would not suspend the strike.
