The Federal Government’s scheduled meeting with the Academic Staff Union of Universities initially set for Monday, August 26, has been postponed.
The ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, confirmed the development to Channels Television on Monday, noting that the meeting, announced last Friday by the Minister of Education, will no longer hold as planned.
While the reason for the sudden postponement was not disclosed, the meeting has been rescheduled to Wednesday, August 28.
The discussions are expected to address the long-standing issues between the union and the government, which have repeatedly disrupted academic activities in public universities across the country.
ASUU’s leadership has grown increasingly frustrated with the Federal Government’s perceived neglect of its commitments.
The union’s National Executive Council lrecently convened at the University of Ibadan on August 19, 2024, where it was resolved that a nationwide strike would commence if the government fails to honor the 2009 renegotiated agreement.
This agreement includes critical points that the union insists must be addressed to prevent further industrial action.
The key issues at the heart of ASUU’s grievances revolve around the improvement of lecturers’ welfare, increased funding for universities, and the government’s tendency to establish new universities without adequately funding existing ones.
The union argues that these challenges have crippled the quality of education in Nigeria’s public universities, leaving both students and staff in difficult conditions.
Despite the ongoing negotiations, ASUU has maintained that it is ready to take drastic measures if its demands are not met.
The proposed nationwide strike, should it occur, would mark yet another chapter in the ongoing saga between ASUU and the government, further prolonging the academic calendar and impacting students across the nation.
The meeting on Wednesday is seen as a crucial opportunity for both parties to find a lasting solution to these recurrent issues.
Stakeholders, including students, parents, and educational experts, are watching closely, hoping that the discussions will lead to a positive outcome and avert the impending strike.
