“My President, I hope the problem will be over today, our children must go back to school”. These were the words of President Goodluck Jonathan as he exchanged pleasantries with the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nasir Isa Fagge.
President Jonathan is leading a high-powered Federal Government delegation to negotiate with the officials of the ASUU.
The meeting which started at 14.38 hours is holding at Conference room of the First Lady, Presidential Villa, in a bid to end the ongoing four months strike by the lecturers.
He had to take over the negotiation when it is becoming obvious that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim PiusAnyim who was leading the negotiation was making no headway.
In attendance at the closed door meeting from the government side are: Vice President Namadi Sambo, SGF, Anyim Pius Anyim, Chief of Staff to President, Mike Oghiadome.
Others are Ministers of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Education (acting), Nyesom Wike, Labour and Productivity, Emeka Worgu, NUC Executive Secretary, Prof Julius Okojie and few Presidential aides.
On the ASUU team are the President, Isa Fagge, Prof Dipo Fasina, NLC President Waheed Omar, Prof Festus Iyayi, Suleiman Abdul, Prof Abdullahi Sule-Kano among others.
The ASUU officials had earlier met with Senate President David mark at the National Assembly before coming to the State House.
Also, President Jonathan had in the morning met with Vice President Sambo and the Ministers of Education, Wike ans his Labour counterpart, Worgu in his office, apparently to agree on government’s position ahead of the crucial meeting with ASUU team.
