 |
Image credit: Google |
The House of Representatives’ action in the protracted dispute between university professors and the Federal Government has been praised by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, the president of ASUU, declared: “For the first time, we have seen light at the end of the tunnel.”
Just then, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (ret. ), the Speaker of the House, informed the ASUU leadership about his discussions with him regarding the problem and predicted that the strike would be put off “in matter of days.”
Gbajabiamila and ASUU said the eight-month strike by university lecturers would soon be called off.
READ ALSO: WE ARE READY TO CALL OF STRIKE – ASUU
While Gbajabiamila claimed that the strike would end “in a matter of days” and that the majority of the problems that had caused it had been resolved, the president of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, declared that for the first time since the lecturers ceased work, “we have seen light at the end of the tunnel.”
In order to discuss his discussions with Buhari regarding the problem, the Speaker has scheduled a meeting with the national leadership of ASUU.
In response to the House’s intervention, the legislators held three stakeholder meetings and drafted a seven-point resolution, which Gbajabiamila then delivered to the President.
On Friday, the Speaker and Buhari conducted a follow-up meeting for the second time.
“This is a summary to cement the deal on what has been a long fought battle, long hard road for everyone,” the Speaker declared as she left the meeting. As you may know, the House became involved in this crisis a few weeks ago, and we had lengthy, difficult, and intense talks with ASUU. We met with representatives from the government, and we are pleased to report that thanks to their input and the House’s intervention, significant progress has been made. As a result, we are essentially at the finish line and can now wave for having dotted some “Is” and crossed some “Ts.”
READ ALSO: ASUU WAS NOT TAKEN TO COURT, MINISTER OF LABOUR NGIGE REVEALS
On some issues, we shared agreement with ASUU and the administration, which we brought up with the President. I twice went to see the President. When we initially made our proposals, both the government and ASUU made some progress. We talked to the president. There was one issue that remained unresolved, and that was the “no work, no pay” issue. The President requested that he digest the recommendations and hold one more meeting, which was held on Friday following the budget. Even better than our initial meeting with him was that one. And Mr. President had consented to resolve the matter. I won’t discuss it right now; he would reveal whatever it is on Tuesday, which is today.
READ ALSO: LECTURES REQUESTS REOPENING OF VARSITIES – ASUU STRIKE
Gbajabiamila added, “But beyond that, the other several issues have been taken care of. We were able to make sure that what ASUU was asking for in terms of revitalisation (of universities), salary, there has been significant improvement. Revitalisation has been provided for in the (2023) budget. We made sure of that. The salary structure has been looked at and there has been improvement as well, and we made sure of that.
