Federal Government representatives and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) met on Wednesday to prevent a potential strike by university lecturers. The meeting will resume on September 6.
The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, made this known in Abuja, stating that the government is collaborating with ASUU to develop solutions for the ongoing disputes.
Mamman announced the formation of a new executive leadership of pro-chancellors to address the lecturers’ concerns.
Additionally, a joint committee involving ASUU, the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and the Ministry of Labour has been established to expedite the resolution of outstanding issues, particularly those with presidential directives.
According to the minister, the meeting will reconvene next week to review feedback and progress reports on the implementation of various agreements.
ASUU is expected to submit detailed information on unpaid salaries of staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments, as well as outstanding third-party deductions.
This information will be forwarded to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for further action.
Recently, university lecturers threatened to go on strike, citing the Federal Government’s failure to meet their demands.
The primary focus of the meeting, initially scheduled for Monday but postponed, was to prevent another nationwide strike and enhance security across universities.
Mamman emphasized the government’s commitment to improving security within the education sector, assuring that efforts will continue to keep students on campus.