FG, ASUU meet today over fresh planned strike

FG, ASUU meet today over fresh planned strike

Representatives of the Federal Government, led by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, are scheduled to meet today with officials from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other relevant stakeholders. The meeting aims to address various unresolved issues that have led ASUU to threaten a strike, following a 21-day notice issued to the government.

ASUU’s notice came after a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the University of Ibadan. The union’s demands include the release of an emergency revitalisation fund for public universities, payment of outstanding earned academic allowances, release of withheld salaries and promotion arrears, and concerns related to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and third-party deductions.

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The last ASUU strike, which occurred during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, lasted over eight months and severely disrupted academic activities across universities nationwide.

During a press conference in Abuja marking one year of the current administration, the Education Minister confirmed that letters of invitation had been sent to ASUU officials and other relevant organizations. He assured that many of the issues raised by ASUU are already being addressed, including exiting IPPIS, which President Bola Tinubu has resolved, although bureaucratic delays have hindered its implementation.

Prof. Mamman emphasized the president’s commitment to ensuring academic stability in universities and expressed hope that today’s meeting would resolve the outstanding issues. He appealed to ASUU to approach the negotiation table with an open mind so that the interests of all parties could be fairly represented and a permanent solution to academic disruptions could be achieved.

FG, ASUU meet today over fresh planned strike