The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, has established a sub-committee to review the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), following a crucial closed-door meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday.
The meeting, which lasted for two and a half hours, saw the participation of ASUU leadership, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, and other key ministry officials. Both parties agreed to reconvene on September 6, 2024, to further discuss the outstanding issues.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Prof. Mamman revealed that the newly formed sub-committee would focus on addressing and resolving the key concerns raised by ASUU. The goal is to ensure that all lingering issues are thoroughly examined and solutions are found ahead of the next meeting.
ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, expressed optimism that the unresolved matters would be addressed before the September 6 meeting. He emphasized that the union’s primary concern is the welfare and future of Nigerian students, and they are committed to ensuring that these issues are resolved in the best interest of the country’s educational system.
Among the demands ASUU is pushing for are the revitalization of university infrastructure, enhanced academic freedom, a sustainable funding model for universities, the release of revitalization funds, the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, and the payment of earned allowances for university lecturers.
The outcome of the next meeting will be critical in determining the future of Nigeria’s university education system as both parties work towards finding a mutually acceptable resolution.
