There are heightened expectations among students, parents, civil societies and the general public as the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Federal Government are scheduled to have a high-level parley today aimed at resolving the prolonged strike action that has kept Nigerian public varsities students at home since February 14, 2022.
President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke dropped the indication of the meeting while speaking on Channels TV Politics Today programme monitored by The New Diplomat. He hinted that the meeting was to discuss one of seven issues ASUU is protesting over while disclosing that if today’s (Tuesday) meeting goes well, the strike action may be called off.
“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, structure, 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.”
“We are willing to sign,” he said.
It would be recalled that ASUU embarked on a four-week warning strike on February 14.
On March 14, the union extended the industrial action by another two months to allow the government to 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.
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).
