FG, ASUU sign agreement to end strike

Supervising Minister of Education Nyesom Wike said the resolution was a result of the agreements reached at the final negotiation between the government and ASUU.The university teachers began the strike in July over non- implementation of a 2009 agreement reached with the government to adequately fund the universities as well as a rise in salaries […]

Supervising Minister of Education Nyesom Wike said the resolution was a result of the agreements reached at the final negotiation between the government and ASUU.
The university teachers began the strike in July over non- implementation of a 2009 agreement reached with the government to adequately fund the universities as well as a rise in salaries and allowances of the teachers.
All subsequent formal and informal talks between both sides had failed to resolve the dispute culminating in a threat by the government last week to sack over 33,000 teachers if they fail to resume work last Monday.
ASUU called that bluff off but the government pulled back from carrying out its threat saying some respected Nigerian had called for restraint.
A flurry of activities last week brought the two sides together again resulting in yesterday’s agreement.
Briefing newsmen Wike said: “Today, I am very pleased to announce that all contending issues between ASUU and the Federal Government have been resolved to the satisfaction of the parties.
“Let me emphasise that we recognise and appreciate ASUU’s patriotic role and determination to ensure that our universities are well funded, resources provided and run like their counterparts in other parts of the world.
“We are all partners in progress and there is no victor, no vanquish in a struggle of this nature and our goal remains noble and targeted at moving our nation forward.
ASUU president Nasir Fagge said the resolution that was signed was a response to a letter the union wrote to the President through the Supervising Minister of Education.
“This document contains everything we listed in a letter to Mr President; we will now forward the document to our members for further directives,’’ he said.
 He said that it is only ASUU’s highest decision making body that has the power to call off the strike adding that the body will meet within a week.
He commended parents, students and Nigerians for their understanding and patience, stressing that the struggle was to ensure that government puts the university system in order.
Present at the signing were the Vice Chancellors of Bayero University, Kano, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, University of Ibadan, University of Port Harcourt and University  of Lagos who mediated the meeting that led to agreement signing between the two parties.