FG, ASUU meeting deadlocked …To meet again on Monday

THE hope for resolution of the over one month
industrial action by the Academic Staff Union
of Universities (ASUU), on Tuesday, was dashed
as the ongoing negotiation on payment of
academic Earned Allowance was deadlocked. However, Governor of Benue State and leader
of the Federal Government’s negotiation team,
Gabriel Suswam, told newsmen after a closed-
door meeting with ASUU that the deliberation
with the leadership of ASUU was fruitful and
that the meeting had been shifted to Monday, next week. He noted that with the progress made so far “it
is hoped that conclusions would be reached
next week for ASUU to call off the strike.” The governor had stated earlier before the
meeting that government was determined to
resolve the problem “if possible today or
shortest possible time.” According to him, two new actors were
introduced-the Finance Minister, Mrs Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala and Director, Budget Office,
adding that the discussion was basically on
academic earned allowance which had been
more protracted. Suswam, who is the Chairman of the
Presidential Universities Needs Assessment
Committee, expressed optimism that the
issues would soon be resolved going by the
progress made so far. However, ASUU President, Comrade Nasir Isa
Fagge, refused to speak with reporters, saying
they should meet Governor Suswam, who is the
government’s negotiator, for what agreements
were reached in the closed door meeting. Governor Suswam said: “Well, the meeting
continues next week Monday. We made some
progress, we had very fruitful discussion with
ASUU and we have agreed to meet again on Monday at about three o’clock. When we meet
again, we will be able to arrive at some conclusions.” When he was reminded that he had made same
promise last week, Suswam said: “No, I said
between one and two weeks. There is nothing
wrong; you know we introduced some new
faces, the minister of finance; you agree with
me she is attending the meeting for the first time and also the Director-General, Budget.
Now that finance is coming, we are getting
close to resolving it.”