The Academic Staff Union of Universities,ASUU, has finally agreed to call off its long strike action but reiterated that it will only happen if the federal government meets two major demands .
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The president of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osedeke said the only reason why the strike will be called off is if the federal government agrees to the UTAS payment platform and concur with the 2009 treaty.
He, however, stated that the agitation against the government was in the best interest of Nigerian students .
As gathered by Legit.ng, the leadership of ASUU said the conditions to be met include the federal government accepting the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) payment platform and also concurring with the 2009 agreement.
It will be recalled that the heated battle between ASUU and the federal government is hinged on just two major agreements and if met, the strike will end.
He said: “Let government tell us they have finished testing the UTAS and sign the agreement, then tomorrow we will call off the strike. “We challenge the government, when would they sign the agreement? When would they accept UTAS? These are the two questions we should ask the Nigerian government.” “We’re simply fighting for students”, says ASUU
According to Prof. Osedeke, ASUU’s agitation is in the best interest of Nigerian students in other to ensure they have a conducive and enabling environment for learning. While speaking on the program, the ASUU president made reference to neighbouring countries like Ghana as well as South Africa whom he said had a better educational system than Nigeria.
He however reiterated that if an agreement is reached and stipulations are signed, ASUU will call off the strike. Prior to the latest development, ASUU has been in a heated battle with federal government for its refusal to honour the 2009 agreement it entered with the union. The agreement contains a series of demands with one of them being the preferred use of the UTAS payment platform instead of the federal government recommended IPPIS.
Others include review of salary, allowances, rehabilitation of infrastructure and other facilities in universities and a host of others. Buhari to give final resolution on ASUU strike, UTAS, says Ngige Meanwhile, the minister for labour and employment, Dr Chris Ngige has revealed that decisions on this will soon be made on the UTAS payment platform.
According to Ngige, President Muhammadu Buhari will issue a directive in the light of the issue and as well as increment of salary for lecturers.
