The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has refused to attend a meeting with the Federal Government scheduled for today.
ASUU President, Biodun Ogunyemi, confirmed that the union will not attend the meeting.
According to him, ASUU has met, discussed the new offer from the FG and submitted a proposal to the government.
He said consequently, the union will only honour another meeting after receiving a reply to their proposal from the government.
ASUU’s explanation:
“On Thursday 17th August 2017, we met with the Minister of Labour and Education where it was decided that we should consult our members and revert back to the government, we have consulted our members and in a letter dated 28th of August, we have written back to the federal government on the outcome of our consultations,” ASUU said.
“As we expect the federal govt reaction to our letter, we hope it would not be long before we receive a response that would be bring lasting solution to the dispute.”
The botched meeting was confirmed in a statement issued by the Deputy Director, Press, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Samuel Olowookere, late on Monday, which was called by Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, following the failure of ASUU to get back to the Federal Government after both parties met on August 17, 2017.
The Union declared an indefinite strike two weeks ago, citing the failure of the government to implement agreements reached with the union in 2009.
The National President of the union, Dr. Biodun Ogunyemi, announced this at a meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU in Abuja.
He said during the strike, there shall be no teaching, no examination and no attendance of statutory meetings of any kind in any of the union’s branches across the country.
Dr. Ogunyemi declared a ‘total, comprehensive and indefinite’ nationwide strike after a nationwide consultation with members at an emergency NEC meeting held on Saturday, August 12, 2017.