The Herald reported yesterday that the Academic Staff Union of
Universities did not intend to call off the strike this week, and
instead would pass on more demands to the Presidency. This was one of
the decisions reached at its secret Executive Council meeting held over
the weekend.
One of these demands is the payment of salary arrears accrued during
the period the Union was on strike. ASUU members feel they deserve to be
paid during the period they were not working.
Another demand being tabled by ASUU to the Presidency is the
immediate payment of N100 billion as part of the university intervention
fund, with the balance of N1.1 trillion spread over the next five
years.
Tempers flared at the meeting over the death of ASUU former
President, Festus Iyayi, and some ASUU members had initially wanted to
torpedo the negotiations with government as they felt government was
directly responsible for his death. However cooler heads prevailed and
it was decided that since President Jonathan had been the first
President to ever meet with ASUU leadership over their grievances that
they would honour him by proceeding with negotiations. They also based
their decision to cater to the “welfare of parents and students”.
Another key decision reached at the NEC meeting was to have the N1.2
trillion warehoused at the Central Bank of Nigeria and released to the
universities quarterly so as to prevent any reneging of the agreement.
The Trade Union Congress and the National Universities Commission are
also expected to be guarantors of the agreement.
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