All is now set for a return to classroom as striking university lecturers have reached a truce with the federal government and will suspend their industrial action anytime from now. A senior member of ASUU told Political Economist that following the breakthrough in the discussions, the lecturers would most likely suspend the strike and return to classroom next week. He however explained that the word is ‘suspend’ strike as any breach by the Federal Government will force them to stay off classrooms again.
Both ASUU and the Federal Government had been engaged in ding-dong meetings but most times ended talks in stalemate. A major headway was made early on Friday.
The lecturers were represented by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at a marathon meeting with the representatives of the Federal Government.
ASUU is expected to convene its National Executive Council (NEC) where a decision will be taken to formally suspend the strike which has crippled universities across the country.
They rose from the meeting early on Friday in Abuja after reaching an agreement that was mutually acceptable, including the commencement of payment of salary shortfalls.
Dr. Chris Ngige, is reported to have assured ASUU that the government had started paying the arrears of salary.
ASUU insisted that the Federal Government must remit N200 billion into the universities’ revitalisation fund before the on-going strike can be suspended.
Those who represented ASUU at the negotiation are a former President of the union, Prof. Assisi Asobie, and President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba.
Issues in contention include the registration of Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company (NUPEMCO); fractionalisation of salaries in federal universities and gross under-funding/non-funding of state universities.
Others include payment of arrears and the implementation of earned academic allowance; and the non-release of funds for the revitalisation of public universities as spelt out in the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding.
Other issues are guidelines for the retirement benefits of professors in line with the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement; Treasury Single Account (TSA) and withdrawal of support for universities’ staff primary schools. ( with further reports from NAN)
