“But I Don’t Know About Suspension Of Strike” – ASUU President, Ogunyemi

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU has denied news reports that it agreed 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.

The Federal Government at the meeting at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Labour and Employment reportedly increased its offer for Earned Allowances EA to university based unions and funding for the revitalization of public universities from N65 billion to N70 billion.

Briefing journalists after the eight-hour meeting, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, had said the dialogue was fruitful and that ASUU has given an indication that the meeting, the strike which started since March would soon be called off after a meeting with the leadership of union and its organs.

But ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, in a statement to journalists, 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.

newswirengr.com