President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday engaged the leadership of the striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in a marathon meeting inside the First Lady Conference Room, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting, which was still on as at the time of filing this report (12.33am), was aimed at finding a final resolution to the strike that started on July 1.
The President was joined at the meeting that started at 2.40pm by Vice President Namadi Sambo; Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike; and Minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu among others.
ASUU President, Dr. Nasir Isa Faggae, led the union team which included past presidents such as Prof. Abdulahi Sule-Kano, Prof. Dipo Fashina and Prof. Festus Iyayi.
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Abdulawahid Omar and that of the Trade. Union Congress, Bobboi Kaigama, also attended.
Other members of the delegation were Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, Prof. Victor Osodeke, Prof. Suleiman Abdul, Dr. Victor Igbum and Mr. Michael Odunmoraye.
Indication that the logjam may be resolved at the meeting emerged when the President declared while shaking hands with members of the delegation that, “The matter must be resolved here today. Our children must go back to school.”
Before the meeting with the President, the leadership of ASUU had met with the Senate President, David Mark, who expressed government commitment to the resolution of the dispute.
The Senate had in a resolution last week, mandated Mark to mediate in the crisis occasioned by the non implementation of the 2010 agreement between ASUU and Federal Government.
The union honoured Mark’s invitation on Monday when they presented their position and expressed optimism that the intervention of the Senate might bring a lasting solution to the crisis.
CULLED FROM: the PUNCH
NB: as at the time of filing this report, it was yet to be clear if the strike has been called off.
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