The National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Emmanuel Osodeke revealed that the union began renogatiation with the team of the federal government since a week ago.
The union president in an interview with PUNCH made the revelation on Sunday, May 29. The President further stated that the union in joint action with the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) of Educational and Associated Institutions are in the negotiation together.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities embarked on its industrial strike action on February 14th which was supposed to be a one month warning strike. At the end of the one month warning strike, the union along side other university unions felt displeased with the Federal Government and decided to embark on another two months warning strike. At the end of the two months warning strike, the Federal Government seems not to be meeting with the demand of the union which was initiated since 2009. The strike continued with another 12 weeks addition. The students along side the union recently marked 100 days at home
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The Federal Government in a bit to meet up with the demand of the union had set up a committee to look into it. The Briggs Committee which is officiated by Professor Nimi Briggs is yet to arrive at an agreement with ASUU, SSANU and NASU.
For the fifth time, the negotiation team is meeting ASUU and it brings a little hope to the students who are ever ready to get back to school. In a viral video, the students of the Federal University Lokoja laments bitterly as their house rents expires without being in use due to the lingering ASUU’s strike.
SSANU reveals that they are not used to staying at home and are ready to get back to work as soon as the issues raised and demand appealed are being discussed and agreed on.