By Oyinkansayo Wole-Bodunde.
The Federal Government, led by Education Minister Tahir Mamman, has scheduled a meeting with officials of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other relevant stakeholders for Monday.
The meeting aims to resolve pressing issues that have led ASUU to issue a 21-day strike notice including demands for emergency revitalisation funding for public universities, payment of outstanding earned academic allowances, and release of withheld salaries, promotion arrears, and third-party deductions.
Mamman emphasized that the government is committed to addressing these concerns, highlighting that President Tinubu has already resolved the issue of exit from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
He attributed the delay in implementation to bureaucratic processes but assured that significant progress will be made by the time of the meeting.
The minister appealed to ASUU to approach the negotiations with an open mind, considering the interests of all parties involved. He noted that many of ASUU’s demands date back to 1981 and have been ongoing issues for successive governments.
He expressed optimism that a permanent solution can be found under President Tinubu’s leadership, citing his campaign commitment to ensuring academic stability in the nation’s tertiary institutions.
