consultations, says leader
After 13 hours of negotiations with the Federal
Government, the Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU) got yesterday another offer
towards the resolution of the crisis that has
crippled the campuses for over four months.
But ASUU President Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge, did
not disclose the new Federal Government's
offer, insisting that its members have the final
say on the issue.
Lecturers were holding meetings on the various
campuses last night over the government's
offer.
Speaking with State House correspondents
after the meeting with President Goodluck
Jonathan at the First Lady's Conference Room
in the Presidential Villa, Fagge said the meeting
was working towards tackling the problem of
university education.
He said: "Well, we have had lengthy meeting
with Mr. President, rubbing minds on how best
to address the problem of university education
in this country.
"And we now have a message from Mr.
President we are going to take to our
members. And we are expecting that our
members will respond appropriately to the
message of Mr. President."
On whether the lecturers are going back to the
classroom, he said: "That is up to our
members."
Asked what the message was, he said: "I can't
tell you. Its not for you. It is for our
members."
If impressed with the message, he said: "Don't
put words into my mouth. Our members will
determine that."
Also speaking at the end of the meeting,
Minister of Labour Emeka Wogu said: "We
made progress; the President of ASUU told you
that they are going back with a message from
the Federal Government to their members. And
the message is full of high expectations and
hope."
On whether the strike will be called off, he
said: "That is why the message is full of high
expectations and hope. So, our prayers is that
they come back with positive outcome. They
might not even come back to meet us; they
might take decisions there that will meet your
expectations."
"Nigerians should be patient for ASUU to finish
their meetings and come out with a message to
Nigerians."
Asked whether the government made a fresh
offer, Wogu said: "Well, the offers we made
are the offers they are taking in line with the
2009 agreement. The issues that led to the
strike are issues contained in the 2009
agreement and we did not go beyond the
agreement."
Before the meeting started on Monday
afternoon, President Jonathan had assured the
lecturers that the strike would be resolved .
Jonathan, who took charge of the Federal
Government's negotiations with the lecturers,
while exchanging pleasantries with the ASUU
team, led by Fagge, said: "My president, all the
problems will be over today, all our children
must go back to school."
Also greeting the NLC President, Comrade
Abdulwahab Omar at the beginning of the
meeting, President Jonathan said: "My
president, with you around today, there will be
no problem; our agreement is signed, sealed
and delivered."
On the Federal Government team were Vice
President Namadi Sambo; Wogu; Supervising
Minister of Education Nyesom Wike; Secretary
to the Government of the Federation, Sen.
Anyim Pius Anyim; National Universities
Commission (NCC) Executive Secretary Prof
Julius Okogie and Minister of Finance and
Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dr.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Also in the government team are the Chief of
Staff, Chief Mike Oghiadhome and the
Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of
Education, Dr. Mac John Nwaobiala.
For ASUU were its Vice President, Prof Biodun
Ogunyemi, three past presidents of ASUU,
Profs. Festus Iyayi, Dipo Fashina and Abdullahi
Sule-Kano.
Others included Prof. Suleiman Abdul; Dr.
Victor Igbum and Prof. Victor Osodeke.
The ASUU team also had Omah and Trade
Union President Bobboi Kaigama.
The Presidency, on September 19, took over
negotiations with the striking lecturers with
Sambo heading the government's side.
Source: THE NATION
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