The over six months old strike in public universities in Nigeria is far from being suspended, as the Tuesday’s meeting between the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government again ended in a deadlock
The striking lecturers had met with the Professor Nimi Briggs led committee at the National University Commission in Abuja with the aim of resolving pending issues and ending the strike
It was learnt that members of the Briggs renegotiation committee who did not come with any new offer on the table, only pleaded with the negotiating team of ASUU to suspend the ongoing strike, with promises that their concerns will be included in the 2023 budget.
The meeting which started at about 12pm, was said to have lasted for about three hours without agreement reached on any of the demands of the striking lecturers
ASUU who has continued to extend its strike action in public universities, is demanding for 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 maintained that it doesn’t have the such an amount, citing low oil prices during the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
The union is also demanding the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement reached with government and replacement of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) with proposed alternative payroll system, the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).
UTAS according to ASUU, had passed the integrity test of the Federal Government saying the union is only waiting for it approval as alternative payment platform in the university system
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