The Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU has denied reports that it is set to call off the ongoing strike after meeting with the Government negotiation team led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige on Friday.
There have been widespread reports that the varsity lecturers were set to reopen public universities after the government pledged to pay N40 billion for Earned Allowances and N30 billion for the revitalization of the university system bringing the total payment to N70 billion.
The reports which note that the Government agreed to settle the arrears of salaries of the lecturers before December 31st, added that ASUU was expected to report the agreement to its organs before communicating their decision to the government after which a date for the calling off of the strike would be announced.
However, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, has denied knowledge of any agreement to call off the strike, stressing that at the meeting, it was only agreed that union should convey Government message to their organs and get back to Government.
Prof. Ogunyemi, said: ” I am not aware of that. All I know is that we had a meeting and we are going to report to our members. But I don’t know about suspension of strike.”
Friday’s meeting was about the seventh time both sides have met to resolve the issues in contention since the university union embarked on strike on March 23.
