There is hope and a strong indication that the over four months strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, will soon be called-off.
The indications emerged after a meeting between the executives of ASUU and President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday which lasted till the early hours of Tuesday.
Speaking after the meeting, the President of ASUU, Nasiru Isa Fagge, told State House correspondents that a fruitful deliberation with the Nigerian President was held but the outcome would be pronounced after the union’s meeting with its National Executive Council, NEC.
“We have had lengthy meeting with Mr. President, rubbing minds on how best to address the problem of university education in this country. We now have a message from Mr President that we are going to take back to our members, and we are expecting that our members will respond appropriately,” he said.
The minister of labour, Emeka Wogu, on his part confirmed the fruitful nature of the deliberation with the President, but said government is now waiting for the union to come-up with its modalities that would lead to ending the on-going strike.
“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 expectations and hope,” Wogu confirmed.
The academic activities of universities in Nigeria have been grounded close to five months as ASUU downed tools, demanding welfare benefits and the effective funding of the tertiary education sector in the country.
With this effort of government, the universities in Nigeria would be once again open for full academic activities which have been stalled for over for months.
The meeting had in attendance, Vice President Namadi Sambo; the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Abdulwaheed Omar and the President General of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Bobbo Kaigama.
Others there, were the ministers of education and finance Ezenwo Wike and Ngozi Okonji-Iweala.