FG offers ASUU N65bn to resolve lingering dispute

The federal government has offered the sum of N65 billion to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in order to persuade the union to call off its eight-month strike.

Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment, presented the offer on behalf of the government during a meeting with the union in Abuja on Friday.

The amount, according to the minister, is meant to address the union’s demands which include earned academic allowances and revitalisation of universities.

Ngige explained that of the total money offered by the federal government, N15 billion would be dedicated for revitalisation of universities.

The minister added that the fund follows the N20 billion earlier offered to the union, which makes it N35 billion earmarked to revitalise universities.

Ngige also called on vice-chancellors across public universities to submit details of the EAA/EA to the National Universities Commission (NUC) before November 30.

The meeting was adjourned till next Friday for the stakeholders to further concretize the resolutions.

ASUU had embarked on an indefinite strike in March over non-implementation of agreements and resolutions the federal government reached with the union in 2009.

It had also opposed the adoption of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) while presenting its University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as an alternative.

The union has had several meetings with the federal government since the strike commenced but no agreement has been reached.

TheCable had earlier examined how the incessant industrial actions embarked upon by the union since 1999 have forced students out of school for over four years.