By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The dispute between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) reported steady progress at the weekend as both parties met to continue further negotiations.
ASUU had issued a 21-day strike notice to the federal government on August 19 at the end of its NEC meeting held at the University of Ibadan over some demands.
At the end of a meeting between both parties last week to avert the strike, a sub-committee was set up to review ASUU’s demands, while the government promised to ensure lasting solutions to the crisis, and the parties agreed to reconvene on Friday, September 6.
The minister of education, Professor Tahir Mamman, who addressed the meeting, acknowledged the collective efforts towards revitalising the education sector.
While significant progress has been made, Mamman emphasized the need for further collaboration and information gathering to address outstanding issues.
A joint committee, established to focus on critical matters, has made notable headway, with valuable contacts and information exchange. However, more work is required to finalize decisions and move forward with concrete steps, he noted.
Mamman expressed gratitude to ASUU members for their dedication, patience, and sacrifices, reiterating the importance of continued collaboration to resolve pressing issues in the nation’s educational system.
ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, also noted progress in various areas, citing ongoing efforts to address multiple issues with the government. He hinted at a mechanism to tackle outstanding concerns, expressing optimism for future resolutions.
The meeting underscored the shared commitment to transforming Nigeria’s education sector, with all stakeholders working tirelessly towards this goal.
The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu and other top officials of the ministry were present at the meeting held at the Federal Ministry of Education’s conference hall.
While both sides were tight-lipped about specific agreements reached, the focus remains on preventing a nationwide strike and ensuring stability in the academic institutions.
In a statement by the director of press and public relations of the ministry, Mrs Boriowo Folasade, significant progress has been made as the minister emphasised the need for further collaboration and information gathering to address outstanding issues.
She said, “A joint committee, established to focus on critical matters, has made notable headway, with valuable contacts and information exchange. However, more work is required to finalize decisions and move forward with concrete steps.”
