ASUU, FG Postpone crucial meeting on strike

The anticipated meeting between the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government, initially scheduled for Monday, has been postponed.

The meeting was aimed at resolving the ongoing issues hindering the progress of Nigerian universities.

ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, informed the press on Monday that the meeting, previously announced by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, will no longer take place as planned. Although no specific reason was given for the postponement, the meeting is now expected to occur on Wednesday, August 28.

This development follows ASUU’s recent issuance of a 21-day strike notice to the Federal Government. The union has raised several unresolved issues, including the need for an emergency revitalization fund for public universities, payment of outstanding earned academic allowances, and the release of withheld salaries, promotion arrears, and third-party deductions for its members.

Additional concerns include the stoppage of illegal recruitments, the proliferation of public universities, the abuse of university laws and processes, the removal of universities from the Treasury Single Account (TSA), and the implementation of a new Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) to ensure the autonomy of universities.

The postponed meeting is now awaited with high expectations, as both parties seek to find lasting solutions to these pressing issues.