ASUU awaits Nigerian government approval as lawmakers reach agreement with lecturers

Following the lingering strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the leadership of the House of Representatives on Tuesday reached a new agreement with the union.

The lawmakers brokered the new agreement after four hours of meeting at the National Assembly in Abuja.

However, the agreement is subject to the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently at the United Nations General Assembly meeting at the UN.

The President of ASUU, Emmanuel Osodeke led the Union to the meeting, while the Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opiah represented the federal government.

After the closed-door session, Femi Gbajabiamila, who chaired the meeting announced that the meeting produced some agreements, however, he did not state the agreement reached.

He disclosed that the lawmakers will present the agreement to president Buhari upon his arrival, while ASUU is to do the same with their members.

“There were basically seven areas where ASUU has presented what we considered to be requisition for them to go back to strike. We have looked at the seven areas, we have more or less agreed on certain things.

“Once that is done, the leadership of this house will await the return of Mr President from the ongoing General Assembly. We will meet with Mr President. We will lay the agreement reached by the legislative arm of government. I am hopeful that Mr President will buy into the agreement and with that, I believe that this matter will be speedily brought to a close,” he said.

The lawmakers will on Thursday meet with National Information Technology Development Agency, the Accountant General of the Federation, the Auditor General for the Federation and the National Salaries Incomes and wages Commission to discuss this further.

Speaking at the meeting, the ASUU president said the issue will be resolved soon.

He said, “It is a good development and we are waiting for what they will send to us to commit our members. We hope that in the immediate future, this issue will be resolved.