The proposed strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may have been averted following the intervention of Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.
During a meeting held on Thursday at Hon. Gbajabiamila’s office, it was agreed that the federal government will fulfill its obligation to the academicians.
Part of the agreement reached was that the N30 billion revitalisation fund be released to the universities within the next one week.
Also, the N22.1 billion Earned Academic Allowances are to be paid also within the next one week.
The meeting also agreed to compel the Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to fast track the process of testing and approving the University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) being developed by the union for the payment of salaries of university lecturers.
It was further resolved that a tripartite committee made up of members of the union, the government and the National Assembly be set up to work out modalities for the resumption of renegotiation of the 2009 agreement between the union and the government.
Renegotiation had been stalled following the resignation of the chairman of the renegotiation committee with the union becoming apprehensive about resumption of the exercise.
The meeting was attended by members of the National leadership of ASUU comprising mainly past Presidents of the union led by its President, Prof. Victor Emmanuel.
Other participants at the meeting were the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajia Zainab Ahmed and the Minister of State for Education Emeka Nwajuba.
Other were the Chairman of the House Committee on Tertiary Education, Comrade Aminu Suleiman and his Basic Education counterpart, Prof. Julius Ihonvbare.
The Speaker had summoned the meeting on Wednesday to find ways of addressing the grievances of the lecturers following a motion of urgent public importance moved by Prof. Ihonvbare.
