The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) reached possible agreement on Monday toward resolving the ongoing lecturers
The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) reached possible agreement on Monday toward resolving the ongoing lecturers’ strike. Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, said this after a reconciliatory meeting with ASUU in Abuja. Ngige said the meeting was fruitful as an agreement had been reached between the Federal Government and the striking university lecturers. According to him, the Federal Government has released N15.4 billion for the payment of the salary shortfalls, which was one of the major demands of the union.
“This money is being worked on, and will be released as soon as the process is completed. ASUU has fulfilled its own side of the bargain in terms of NUPECO, which is the Pension Fund Administration company that ASUU has floated to take care of pension for people in the university system. The Pension regulator, the PENCOM, has asked certain positions to be fulfilled and they gave a temporary license, which has expired. ASUU has submitted all the documents and fulfilled all conditions needed to get their license,” Ngige said.
Ngige noted that the meeting had resolved to mandate the Ministry of Education to get in touch with PENCOM to make sure that the permanent licence is issued to ASUU as soon as possible. The minister also said on the issue of university revitalisation, the President Goodluck Administration entered into an agreement with the body for revitalisation of 20 universities annually for the next 6 years.
