UPDATED: NO HOPE INSIGHT AS ASUU STRIKE CONTINUES

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government delegate met Monday evening following the ongoing strike.

The meeting began on Monday evening, around 5pm, in attendance is Dr. Chris Ngige, the minister of Labour and Employment as well as a delegation of the striking lecturers.

The Strike was embarked upon by the Public Universities Lecturer on November 4, 2018.

Earlier on, before the commencement of the meeting, ASUU gave the condition that, to call off the Strike, FG should releases N50 billion to demonstrate its commitment to the revitalisation of the universities.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities said that, the strike will continue unless they get satisfactory with their demand on revitalization from the Federal Government.

Speaking after the meeting with the FG at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment which lasted about four hours, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, the ASUU National president, told reporters that the meeting ended with grey areas yet to be resolved.

He reported that, “We have not suspended the strike, the discussion will continue at a later date. We are going back to our members for further consultation. FG gave us reaction to our proposals but there were still grey areas that we are trying to sort out",

“Before the strike can be suspended, the most critical area that FG must address is revitalization. It is central to our academic work, unless that area is addressed, our members will still have issues. We are not demanding for N50bn, we are saying that the minimum that FG can release to reactivate revitalization fund is N50bn".

Dr. Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment, said that the FG had made substantial commitment to ASUU demands and will meet the leadership again when they were ready. Dr. Chris further said that, although he had expected a marathon session with ASUU because President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered him to ensure that all issues relating to the strike were resolved, the meeting ended early.

His statement goes thus; “We did not take a long time than we anticipated. We have other commitments but the important thing is that we have made substantial progress. We have reached some agreements in seven areas. Most of the issues have been resolved but ASUU will need to consult its members and come with what they think".