Education

FG, ASUU resume negotiations today

Published

6 years ago

January 21, 2019

The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities , Prof Biodun Ogunyemi , says ASUU will suspend its 10 -week – old strike if the Federal Government agrees to release N 50 bn to revitalise public universities and N 20 bn to pay lecturers their allowances in their meeting on Monday .
The union resumes its negotiation with the Federal Government , and Ogunyemi insists they body will not shift its ground unless the government makes a commitment to release the money .

However , he said ASUU had lost confidence in the government since it failed to honour previous agreements .

Ogunyemi , who spoke with reporters in Ibadan at the weekend , said ASUU had rejected government’ s proposal of N 20 bn to be paid in two tranches to revitalise public universities .

He said the union had asked the government to include the earned academic allowances in the 2019 budget.

He said , “ We want them to pay N 50 bn as a sign of commitment this quarter .

“ Our members have rejected the 20 bn proposed by them that will be spread over two quarters in 2019 . Our members have insisted on the release of at least N 50 bn .

“ On the earned academic allowances , with N 105 bn not yet paid , our members are saying that even if you ( government) are releasing N 20 bn , let it be stated clearly that it is only for ASUU members, and the balance which you promised to pay by four instalments , attach timelines to the balance and figures .

“ In 2017 , this government promised to include the earned academic allowances in the budget so that we won ’ t be talking about arrears . If the government had included it in the 2018 budget , we would not be talking about arrears now . “ Our members are saying the government should take steps to include it in the 2019 budget and that is not late because they are still working on the budget. ”