Government is Keen On a Peaceful Resolution With ASUU- Minister

Few days into the one-month warning strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, has said the government was surprised by the union’s action.

The minister, who spoke to the media on Wednesday, shortly after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said the government and the striking lecturers will soon reach an agreement towards ending the ongoing industrial action.

ASUU had on Monday announced the commencement of the one month waring strike after its National Executive Council meeting which took place at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka.

ASUU whose request is for the government to address its demands which includes the immediate deployment of its University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) to replace the government-imposed Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS); release a white paper on the visitation panel to federal universities, endorse the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, among others.

The minister was quoted to have said all the lingering issues are being addressed and that he was surprised when ASUU declared the strike on Monday.

“Certainly, we are going to reach an agreement and it will be very soon. Unfortunately they have gone on strike and I am just looking for them because all the issues are being addressed”.

“They submitted a draft agreement which the ministry is looking at. A committee is looking at it, immediately it finishes, the government is meant to announce what it has accepted. Then suddenly, I heard them going on strike. We want a peaceful resolution with the union

“The federal government is ready to meet Asuu on all the issues they have raised and if there are so many meetings and the gap is not closing, I think it is not the fault of the government.”

However, the ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, when contacted, said the government or its delegation has not reached out to the union.