Breaking: FG, ASUU fail to reach agreement, adjourn meeting again

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Joseph Erunke
ABUJA – FOR the fifth time in less than two months,the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, failed to reach agreement on the demands by the latter which resulted to the ongoing strike in Nigeria’s public universities.

After a marathon meeting between the two parties which lasted over six hours, the two parties stormed out of the venue with either side shifting ground.

The meeting which had began at 4:15pm,at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity,ended few minutes after 10pm, without any headway.

The meeting which was the fifth one in a series in less than two months,was convened basically to find lasting solutions to the ongoing strike by the university teachers.

Since the strike began on November 4,four other meetings held in the past, failed to provide solutions as both parties had always failed to reach common ground.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, stold newsmen shortly after the meeting that December 17 had been fixed as next adjourned date.

He said government was adopting all necessary measures to address ASUU’s demands and appealed to the striking lecturers to ensure that Monday’s dialogue was successful.

He said :”The strike is five weeks old today and it is not in anybody’s interest. We will ensure the needful is done.”

On his part, ASUU Chairman, Biodun Ogunyemi, said the union will await the next adjournment date to see how far the federal government will deliver on its promises before it will take a decision on whether to suspend the industrial action.