Jonathan in make-or-break meeting with ASUU leaders

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday
engaged the leadership of the striking
members of the Academic Staff Union of
Universities in a marathon meeting inside the
First Lady Conference Room, Presidential
Villa, Abuja.
The meeting, which was still on as at the time
of filing this report (12.33am), was aimed at
finding a final resolution to the strike that
started on July 1.
The President was joined at the meeting that
started at 2.40pm by Vice President Namadi
Sambo; Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-
Iweala; Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; Supervising
Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike; and
Minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu among
others.
ASUU President, Dr. Nasir Isa Faggae, led the
union team which included past presidents
such as Prof. Abdulahi Sule-Kano, Prof. Dipo
Fashina and Prof. Festus Iyayi.
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress,
Abdulawahid Omar and that of the Trade.
Union Congress, Bobboi Kaigama, also
attended.
Other members of the delegation were Prof.
Biodun Ogunyemi, Prof. Victor Osodeke,
Prof. Suleiman Abdul, Dr. Victor Igbum and
Mr. Michael Odunmoraye.
Indication that the logjam may be resolved at
the meeting emerged when the President
declared while shaking hands with members of
the delegation that, "The matter must be
resolved here today. Our children must go
back to school."
Before the meeting with the President, the
leadership of ASUU had met with the Senate
President, David Mark, who expressed
government commitment to the resolution of
the dispute.
The Senate had in a resolution last week,
mandated Mark to mediate in the crisis
occasioned by the non implementation of the
2010 agreement between ASUU and Federal
Government.
The union honoured Mark's invitation on
Monday when they presented their position
and expressed optimism that the intervention
of the Senate might bring a lasting solution to
the crisis.