Abuja – President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday promised to engage in further consultations with relevant stakeholders, towards ending the protracted strike by university lecturers, under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
A statement issued by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President Media and Publicity on Friday in Abuja , said Buhari made the promise when he met with the Chairman and select members of Pro-Chancellors of Federal Universities at State House,Abuja.
The President said without necessarily going back on what is already established policy, “I will make further consultations, and I’ll get back to you.”
The Pro-Chancellors were led to the meeting by Professor Nimi Briggs, who said they had come to meet with the President in three capacities: “As President and Commander-in-Chief, as father of the nation, and as Visitor to the Federal universities.”
He added that despite the more than seven months of ASUU strike “the future of university system in the country is good.”
Briggs cited the recent listing of the University of Ibadan among the first 1,000 universities in the world to back his claim, saying it is a development occurring for the first time.
He commended the Federal Government for concessions already made to the striking lecturers, including the offer to raise salaries by 23.5% across board, and 35% for Professors.
He, however, asked for “further inching up of the salary, in view of the economic situation of the country.”
The Pro-Chancellors also asked for a reconsideration of the No-Work, No-Pay stance of government, promising that lecturers would make up for time lost as soon as an amicable resolution was reached, and schools reopened.
Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Nana Opiah, said all the concessions made by Federal Government were to ensure that the industrial action comes to an end, but ASUU has remained adamant.(vitalnewsngr.com)
