Abuja.
The Federal Government has set up a tactical committee to review its ‘no work, no pay’ stance against striking members of the Academic Staff Union Of Universities.
This followed a meeting by the Minister Of Education, Adamu Adamu; with Pro-Chancellors, Chairmen of Councils as well as Vice Chancellors of universities.
The meeting held behind closed-doors was part of efforts to resolve the seven-month industrial action by lecturers of public universities.
The Director Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Goong, disclosed this to journalists after the meeting which lasted for over two hours.
He said the committee is to also look into issues of increase in the salaries of the university lecturers and come up with workable solutions.
The spokesman for the ministry did not give a specific timeline for the 14-man committee. He, however, said the committee is expected to come up with its findings in no distant time.
He said the committee’s report will be forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari for action.
Asked if this committee’s work has jettisoned the recommendations of the Professor Nimi Briggs-led committee earlier set up by the federal government, he simply said no.
Meanwhile, some of the university students,who spoke with The Reporters in separate interview in Lokoja on Tuesday the issue, expressed relief, adding that the action of the federal government was an indication that the strike would soon come to an end.
“Madaki Lawal, Mohammed Abubakar, Miss Janet Abidoye of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and University of Jos respectively, described the setting up review committee as the right thing at the right direction.
“I hope and pray that the committee will recommend payment of salaries of our lecturers by the federal government, for the period of the strike and for governnent to accept the recommendation for the strike to come to an end.
“We know the demands of ASUU are legitimate but the strike lasted for too much,hence the need for the union to call it off while its members continue the remaining negotiation with the government,”Abidoye said.
The Reporters recalls that ASUU commenced strike on February 14,2022 to home the need for the federal government to fulfill the agreement its reached with the union in 2009 among others.
Channels Television/,The Reporters.
