Jonathan, ASUU meeting: Varsity teachers still undecided

The over 12 hours marathon meeting between
President Goodluck Jonathan and striking
members of the Academic Staff Union of
Universities ended at about 3.30am on
Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja
without a commitment from the union
members.
ASUU President, Dr. Nasir Isa Faggae, told
State House correspondent that the delegation
was taking back an undisclosed message to
their members following which a decision will
be taken on the union’s next line of action.
“We have had a lengthy meeting with Mr.
President, robbing minds on how best to
address the problem of university education in
this country. We now have a message from
Mr. President that we are going to take to our
members and we are expecting that our
members will respond appropriately to his
message,” he said.
He said since the message was meant for
members, he would not divulge it to the press.
When asked whether he will call his members
to return to the classroom, he said that
decision was left for members to take.
When further asked whether he was impressed
by the President’s message, Faggae warned
journalists from putting words into his mouth,
insisting that only ASUU members would
determine that.
Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, who
listened to Faggae’s encounter with journalists
later said progress was made during the
discussion.
He said, “We made progress. The President of
ASUU told you that they are going back with a
message from the Federal Government back to
their members and the message is full of high
expectation and hope.”
When asked whether ASUU will call off the
strike, the minister said that was why he
described the message as full of expectation.
“Our prayer is that they will come back with
positive outcome. They might even not come
back to meet us. They might take decision
there that will meet your expectations ” he
said.
He added that the offers made by the
government during the meeting were offers
that were in line with the 2009 agreement.
He said since the issues that led to the strike
bothered on the 2009 agreement, the
government did not go beyond that
agreement.
The President was joined at the meeting that
started at 2.40pm on Monday by Vice
President Namadi Sambo; Minister of Finance,
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Secretary to the
Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim;
Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom
Wike; and Wogu among others.
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.