The talks between the Federal Government and the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Friday ended in a deadlock.
Further negotiations are to continue 7th February.
ASUU in its demand for improved funding of universities and implementation of previous agreements with the Federal Government had embarked on an indefinite strike 4th November.
The Friday meeting held at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Abuja, is one of the eight in the series since November 2018.
Speaking with the press after the Friday meeting, National President of the union, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, said he is not sure the strike would be over before the election until he consults with the leadership of ASUU.
In his opening remark on Friday, Professor Ogunyemi commended the government for issuing certificate for operation for the Nigerian University Pension Management Company from the National Pension Commission.
ASUU on Monday received the certificate of operation for the pension management company.
The refusal of the pencom commission to approve the teachers’ union’s pension commission for operation was one of the major issues in the dispute between the ASUU and the Federal Government.
Ogunyemi said there are other areas the government needs to attend so that the strike can be resolved as soon as possible.
One of the conditions given by the lecturers for the strike to end is the release of N50 billion to demonstrate its commitment to the revitalisation of public universities, in line with previous agreements.
According to an agreement reached in 2013, an MoU had stipulated that public universities need N1.3 trillion for ‘a modest revitalisation’.
The agreement stated the fund should be released in tranches of N200 billion in 2013; N220 billion 2014; N220 billion 2015; 220 billion in 2016; N220 billion in 2017 and N220 billion in 2018.
However, N200 billion was released in 2013 since when no bulk sum has been added.
Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris N. Ngige told journalists after the meeting that, “The meeting was protracted, but the good news is that we have gotten to the end of the tunnel.”
He added that, “We met them halfway and we have finished the gray areas and on the issue of N50 billion, we have offered what we have.
“We do not have N50 billion and we cannot do N50 billion, but we have offered them something reasonable.
“So they have to take it back, and go and present to their members,” he said.
