Strike: Cautious Optimism As ASUU Meets With FG Tuesday

Tuesday’s meeting is not an exception as the Federal Government seems not committed to ending the frustrations of both the students and their parents, through utterances of appointed officials and body language of the leadership.

ASUU is scheduled to meet with Federal Government representatives on Tuesday over its prolonged strike action.

Speaking on Politics Today, on Monday, President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke said the meeting was to discuss one of seven issues ASUU is protesting over.

Some parents who spoke on the scheduled meeting pointed out, what they regard as ‘government usual posture of insincerity’ at tackling the issues at meetings, either because of the perceived lack of interest in the growth and development of the youth by the leadership or the personal ulterior motives of representatives to punish some individuals in the country, with the perceived impunity at all levels of governance.

“Or else, how does one think of ending the strike when government single handedly decides on areas and when to discuss with ASUU. No sense of urgency while some political appointees are now talking from both sides of their mouths, ” says a concerned parent.

But Osodeke said the union is ready to call off the strike anytime government shows commitment to sanitize the university system, adding that the issues go beyond salaries.

“That is the issue of renegotiation,” Osodeke said, “the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement.

“It is not just about wages. It has to do with the system, funding, the structure, the autonomy and other issues; and how to fund universities.

“The government has reduced it to just salaries alone. But if they had looked at the whole agreement and implemented it, we will not be talking about funding.”

Professor Osodeke suggested that if Tuesday’s meeting goes well, the strike action may be called off.

“We are willing to sign,” he said.

He added and assured Nigerians that ASUU will be attending the meeting with open mind.

On March 14, the union extended the industrial action, which started February 14, by another two months to allow the government meet all of its demands. A 12-week extension was announced on May 9.

Since May 9, the union has remained on strike, vowing to persist until its demands are met.

The academics are seeking improved welfare, revitalisation of public universities and academic autonomy among other demands.
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One bone of contention for the academics is the non-payment of university revitalisation funds, which amounts to about N1.1 trillion.

But the Federal Government has said it doesn’t have the money to pay such an amount, citing low oil prices during the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The agreement was struck in 2009.

Another is the issue of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

The academics have proposed an alternative payroll system, the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).