Finally, Federal Government ad Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) agreed to suspend the three month old strike.
The agreement was reached at the through end of the conciliatory meeting held at the instance of Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment and Adamu Adamu Minister of Education.
The parties broker the truce few hours after a team of Students from National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) threatened showdown against the leadership of ASUU who attended the negotiation.
Ngige who read the agreement signed by both parties, expressed optimism that the strike would be suspended.
This is going to be a conclusive meeting and conciliatory meeting between Federal Government and ASUU.
This dispute culminated into a strike that started on the 5th of November, 2018.
According to him the parties unanimously resolved the 8 issues.
He noted that the issue of the NUMPENCO has been resolved as ASUU collected the licence on the 28th January, 2019.
He added that the Visitation panel has also been instituted and will commence work on 2nd March with the view to sanitize the tertiary institutions. This according to him, was in tandem with anti corruption campaign.
On Earned Allowances, Federal Government has released the sum of N20 billion to all categories of staff.
He however noted that Government has approved additional N5 billion for payment of Earned Allowances and others.
According to him, the sum of N25 billion is to be released as Revitalisation Fund between April and May 2019 and resume full implementation of the MoU signed since 2009.
On the reconstitution of the Federal Government negotiation team, he noted that none of the parties can dictate who to represent the interest of either parties.
However, it was agreed that Government’s team should reconvened not later than Monday, 9th and conclude its work on or before 29th March, 2019.
To this end, he observed that ASUU has resolved to brief respective organs with the view to suspend the strike.
On his part, Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU President noted that: “finally we have come up with a document which we have signed on behalf of our members.
“Our members are waiting and you will hear from us later today,” he said.
KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja
