ASUU Strike: Buhari Meets Pro-chancellors, Vows Further Consultations
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Friday, promised to extend the ongoing consultations between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities to end the seven-month strike.
“I will make further consultations, and I’ll get back to you,” Buhari said to the chairman and select members of Pro-Chancellors of Federal Universities at the State House, Abuja.
According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President promised to engage in further consultations with relevant stakeholders towards ending the protracted strike by university lecturers.
The statement is titled ‘ASUU Strike: President Buhari meets with pro-chancellors of varsities, promises further consultations.’
The President said without necessarily going back on what is already established policy, “I will make further consultations, and I’ll get back to you.”
The Pro-Chancellors were led to the meeting by Professor Nimi Briggs, who said they had come to meet with the President in three capacities: “As President and Commander-in-Chief, as father of the nation, and as Visitor to the Federal universities.”
Citing the recent listing of the University of Ibadan among the first 1,000 universities in the world, Briggs noted that “the future of the university system in the country is good,” despite the seven-month industrial action.
Prof Briggs commended the Federal Government for concessions already made to the striking lecturers, including the offer to raise salaries by 23.5 per cent across the board, and 35 per cent for Professors.
He, however, asked for “further inching up of the salary, in view of the economic situation of the country.”
The Pro-Chancellors also asked for a reconsideration of the No-Work, No-Pay stance of the government, promising that lecturers would make up for time lost as soon as an amicable situation was reached and schools reopened.
Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opiah, said all the concessions made by the Federal Government were to ensure that the industrial action came to an end, but ASUU has remained adamant.
Related Article: List Of State Universities In Nigeria That Are Not Under Asuu
FAQs: ASUU Strike – Buhari Meets Pro-Chancellors, Vows Further Consultations
Why did President Buhari meet with university pro-chancellors over the ASUU strike?
President Muhammadu Buhari met with pro-chancellors of Nigerian universities as part of efforts to find a lasting solution to the prolonged Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike. The meeting focused on exploring ways to resolve the disagreement between the Federal Government and university lecturers and restore academic activities.
What did President Buhari promise after meeting with the pro-chancellors?
President Buhari promised that the government would continue consultations with relevant stakeholders to address the issues surrounding the strike. He emphasised the need for dialogue and cooperation among government officials, university administrators, and other parties involved in the dispute.
What were the major issues behind the ASUU strike?
The ASUU strike was caused by several unresolved issues between the Federal Government and the lecturers’ union, including:
- Funding challenges in public universities
- Implementation of previous agreements
- Payment of earned allowances
- University revitalisation demands
- Review of working conditions for academic staff
How did the ASUU strike affect Nigerian university students?
The prolonged strike affected millions of students in public universities by disrupting lectures, examinations, research activities, and graduation schedules. Many students experienced delays in completing their academic programmes, while others faced uncertainty about their educational timelines.
Did Buhari’s meeting with pro-chancellors end the ASUU strike?
No. The meeting was part of ongoing efforts to resolve the dispute but did not immediately end the strike. ASUU and the Federal Government still needed to reach an agreement on the outstanding issues before academic activities could fully resume.
