Strike: FG, ASUU shift grounds

THERE are strong indications that the protracted strike by
Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, that has
crippled academic activities for over four months may end
in the next one week, Vanguard has gathered.
Vanguard sources at the Monday night meeting between the
Federal Government led by President Goodluck Jonathan,
the leadership of ASUU, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC,
and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, said both the
Federal Government and leaders of ASUU had shifted
grounds and leaders of ASUU would meet with its organ
(National Executive Council) to brief members of the
outcome and then take necessary action.
One of the sources told Vanguard: "Both the Federal
Government and the leadership of ASUU are now on the
same page. Both parties have shifted grounds. The
leadership of ASUU will now meet with its appropriate
organ to brief its members and take the necessary action.
"ASUU is in the right position to inform the public after
meeting with its organ. However, I can tell you that all
things being equal, the strike should be over in the next one
week."
The meeting between the government and the labour leaders
started at about 2:30pm on Monday and ended at about
3:30am on Tuesday with a 15 minutes break.
Fagge, Wogu speak
National President of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge, emerged
from the meeting and curtly told newsmen that his
delegation was taking back a message from President
Jonathan to their members.
He declined to disclose what the message was and when
asked whether he was satisfied with the outcome of the
meeting, the ASUU leader told journalists not to put words
in his mouth.
He said: "We have had a 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 to our members and we are expecting that our
members will respond appropriately to his message."
The Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, who also
attended the meeting, told journalists after the meeting that
certain mileage had been attained and expressed the hope
that the university lecturers would call off the strike soon.
He said: "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 high expectation
and hope.
"Our prayer is that they will come back with a positive
outcome. They might even not come back to meet us. They
might take decisions that will meet your expectations."
According to the Minister, what government brought to the
negotiation table were offers that were in tandem with the
2009 agreements between it and ASUU, pointing out that
since the strike was based on the 2009 agreement, the
government did not go beyond that agreement.
Roll call
President Jonathan, who led the Federal Government's
delegation, was joined by Vice President Namadi Sambo;
Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Secretary to
the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim;
Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike; and
minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu.
The ASUU delegation was led by its President, Dr. Nasiru
Fagge; past presidents such as Professor Abdulahi Sule-
Kano, Dr. Dipo Fashina and Professor Festus Iyayi.
Other members of the delegation were Prof. Biodun
Ogunyemi, Prof. Victor Osodeke, Prof. Suleiman Abdul,
Dr. Victor Igbum and Mr. Michael Odunmoraye.
President NLC, Abdulawahid Omar and TUC, Bobboi
Kaigama, also attended the meeting.
While exchanging pleasantries with the ASUU delegation,
President Jonathan had told them "I hope this strike will end
today. Our children have suffered enough. We must find a
solution."
Vanguard