Strike: ASUU members to decide on FG’S fresh offer

 

FG’S: Offer is full of expectations and hope

After thirteen hours of negotiations, the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge on tuesday morning  was not forthcoming with the new Federal Government’s offer as he insisted that his members have the final say on the issue.
Speaking with State House correspondents, he said that the meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan discussed how to tackle the problem of University education system in the country.
He said: “Well we have had lengthy meeting with Mr. President, rubbing minds on how best to address the problem of University education in this country.”
“And we now have a message from Mr. President we are going to take to our members. And we are expecting that our members will respond appropriately to the message of Mr. President.”
On whether the lecturers are going back to the classroom, he said: “That is up to our members.”
Asked what the message was, he said: “I can’t tell you. Its not for you. It is for our members.”


If impressed with the message, he said: “Don’t put words into my mouth. Our members will determine that.”
Also speaking with journalists at the end of the meeting, the Minister of Labour Emeka Wogu said: “We made progress, the President of ASUU told you that they are going back with a message from the Federal Government back to their members. And the message is full of high expectations and hope.”
On whether the strike will be called off, he said: “That is why the message is full of high expectations and hope. So our prayers is that they come back with positive outcome. They might not even come back to meet us, they might take decisions there that will meet your expectations.”
“Nigerians should be patient for ASUU to finish their meetings and come out with a message to Nigerians.”
Responding to whether the Federal Government made a fresh offer, her said: “Well, the offer we made are the offer they are taking in line with the 2009 agreement. The issues that led to the strike are issues contained in the 2009 agreement and we did not go beyond the agreement.”