..ASUU LATEST UPDATE

As the meeting between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)  and the Federal Government negotiating team ended today, ASUU President professor Ukachukwu Awuzie has said he will report to the outcome to the National Executive Council of the university teachers “soonest”  to decide on the offers made by Federal Government.
Speaking after the meeting today at office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, professor Awuzie said “We have discussed. We have looked at the issues. Government has made its offer. And I have to take it to my principal.”
Asked whether he was satisfied with government’s offer, he explained that, “They have laid their cards on the table, and I have to take it to my principal. They have done their best within what they think is available by the Government. Because we are all Nigerians, and we are looking at .. We didn’t go (in to) this to just to soil the system. So, we have listened to them. They have made the offers. They have told us why they took certain decision and why they didn’t take some.  We are going to take it to our principal. And of course you know for the first time we have been able to get this thing, seeing the seriousness of government by taking it to the level of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. That is where we are now. So, we are going to take it to our principal. And I want to assure you that were are going to meet soonest.
On what specific offers made to the ASUU team by the government, he asked “are you my principal?”.
Also speaking, the Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Rufa’i expressed hope that the strike may end after the ASUU NEC meeting and urged students to be "praying for us at home” .
“As mentioned by the President of ASUU, we have just concluded our discussion with them, the series of meetings we had. And as he said, they are going back to have their NEC meeting and their NEC meeting. And it is only after their NEC meeting. And it is only after the meeting that you will hear the outcome.”
Asked about what the government had offered, the Minister of Education said “that is what I cannot say”.
“As soon as they finish the meeting definitely they will let us know. And probably you may even hear before us.”
Asked whether there is strong commitment from the government whatever agreement now that is concluded with them, she said “I am just telling you that we have discussed issues in terms of what we are supposed to discuss with ASUU and we are waiting to hear from them as we said. But I don’t have to start itemizing one by one in terms of what we have discussed and what we have reached.”
“We are very hopeful. That is one thing we say. We are very hopeful. We can’t say they will call off or not. But we are very hopeful that they may call off the strike, but that one will depend really on the meeting they will have with their other members.”
..Excerpt from Daily Trust...