The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have scheduled another meeting for September 6, 2024, to continue discussions aimed at resolving ongoing issues between the two parties.
This decision follows a meeting held on Wednesday, August 8, at the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja.
Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, briefed journalists after the meeting, emphasizing the government’s commitment to addressing ASUU’s concerns and preventing another nationwide strike. He urged ASUU members to approach the negotiations with consideration and an open mind, assuring that the interests of all parties involved would be taken into account.
Addressing the threat of a fresh strike, Mamman acknowledged that many of the contentious issues between ASUU and the government date back to 1981. He attributed the delays in resolving some of these issues to bureaucratic hurdles, despite efforts already made by the government.
“Most of the issues raised by ASUU are currently being addressed. For example, the matter concerning the exit from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) has already been resolved by the President. However, bureaucratic delays have slowed the implementation of this directive. By the time we reconvene on Monday, we expect to have further discussions and hopefully resolve some of these issues,” Mamman stated.
He added that ASUU’s demands, which include improved welfare, better funding for universities, and a halt to the proliferation of universities across the country, have been longstanding challenges for successive governments. However, he emphasized that President Bola Tinubu is committed to finding a permanent solution, as demonstrated by his actions since taking office.
The ongoing negotiations between the Federal Government and ASUU are critical to averting disruptions in Nigeria’s higher education sector.
