By Enyichukwu Enemanna
There are indications that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may consider the offer of the Federal Government and call an end to its six months strike after a meeting with the National Executive Council (NEC) coming up next week Monday.
A source who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said the meeting will be very decisive as it will be a prelude for the Government to take action against the union, including proscribing it as it has threatened.
The source said whatever the outcome of the next week meeting will be, it will be in the interest of the Nigerian university system.
The National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke when contacted, claimed that nothing new has been offered by the government officially known to the union.
He said, “We have been negotiating with them through collective bargaining and whatever they have should not be made to us on the pages of newspapers. It should be done the way it is expected to be done. Our main problem with the government is that there is trust deficit. They will say something and will do another thing.
“After the Memorandum of Action was signed last year with them, they were supposed to pay some money in two tranches starting from August last year, but they did not do the needful.
“As for other unions (NASU, SSANU) suspending their actions, ASUU is not a one man show, we will look collectively at whatever is presented to us. But as at now, nothing has been officially offered,” he said.
Recall that the union has been on strike since February 14 and three weeks ago, extended it for another four weeks that would terminate next Monday.
Non-teaching staff, under the aegis of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Allied Institutions (NASU) have already suspended their industrial actions and are set to resume work Wednesday this week.
Also, the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) is holding its NEC meeting this Thursday and would also suspend its action, leaving ASUU as the only university staff union still on strike.
