The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said it is yet to reach an agreement with the federal government.
The union also rejected claims by Labour Minister, Dr Chris Ngige, that seven out of the nine demands raised by ASUU had been met.
ASUU president, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, said the claim by Ngige was false.
“As far as we are concerned, nothing has been delivered to our members and our members don’t want empty promises. Let us take the issues one after the other.
“The withheld salaries of our members which is between four to eight months have not been paid, if paid, accounts of our members would have been credited. Also, the Earned Academic Allowances, yet to be paid.”
The ASUU president lamented that visitation panels were yet to be constituted for the universities and that issues relating to the proliferation of tertiary institutions by state governors had not been resolved.
-Advertisement-
He asked: “So, on which of these issues has the target beneficiaries seen any concrete action being taken? We are getting to understand the way people in government work.
“When they are still discussing with you, they will go to town and tell people what has not been done. Their intention is to paint ASUU as the aggressor.”
He added that the union does not feel threatened over a reported warning by the government that it could invoke labour laws if a resolution is not reached between the two parties.
He said: “We are ready for discussions if they invite us. The onus of universities reopening soon lies with the government. We go to meetings we are invited to.
“They promised that we would meet some days ago and they said they would write to inform us, we waited in vain for their invite. Nothing came.”
Labour minister has threatened that the Federal Government would consider other options if ASUU was adamant on continuing with its strike which started in March this year.
ASUU is asking government to honour outstanding agreements with the union among other demands.
The students under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in the Southwest and Kwara state had demanded an immediate resolution to the lingering strike.
We do everything possible to supply quality news and information to all our valuable readers day in, day out and we are committed to keep doing this.
Your kind donation will help our continuous research efforts.
-Advertisement-
-Want to get the news as it breaks?-
