The Academic Staff Union of Universities has denied in clear terms, news circulating on social media about the union receiving money from the Federal government estimated to be 15.89 billion naira in order to call off the strike, contrary to earlier wide spread report.
The union’s National President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, denied the report in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Lagos.
The report stated that the fund was for the payment of shortfall in salaries of Universities which is one of the things members of the striking Unions are demanding and agitating for.
Reacting to this the ASUU chairman Prof Biodun Ogunyemi said “Well, someone actually drew my attention to the report. I have not received any formal letter from the Federal Government conveying such information to us.
“The only information I got from the Minister of Labour this afternoon when we spoke was that they have done something concerning our demands; what they have done, I do not know.
“The other thing he told me was that there is going to be a meeting between us (ASUU) and government on Monday.
“It is only when we get to the meeting that we will be able to know what government has done and if it is okay by us, then we will convey same to our members who will now take the next line of action,” he said.
Recall that members of the union had, on November 4, 2018, embarked on what they had described as ‘comprehensive, total and indefinite nationwide strike’ to press home their demands.
The striking lecturers were protesting against alleged non-implementation of agreements they entered into with the Federal Government in 2013 and 2017.
The chairman in the interview confirmed that the first negotiation this year will begin on Monday, however both men of the Federal Government and members of the striking lecturers have met on six different occasions last year when the strike commenced on 4th of November 2018 with no visible agreement between both parties with the last one leading to ASUU staging a walk put during the meeting.
