ASUU strike: Ezekwesili, Okebukola, others to intervene As the meeting between the representatives of the Presidential Universities Needs Assessment Committee and the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, over the lingering industrial action continues today, indications emerged at the weekend that there were moves by some former Ministers of Education, their counterparts from the National Universities Commission, and other stakeholders to wade in. Troubled by the dimension the crisis has taken, the stakeholders, National Mirror gathered, believed that ASUU has become more adamant “because over the years, the Federal Government has not lived up to expectation, and so there are strong doubts of its ability to do so in the future.” The stakeholders, National Mirror learnt, include those who served in the education sector during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo such as Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, Prof. Chinwe Obaji and the former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC, Prof. Peter Okebukola, among others. It will be recalled that the last meeting between the two parties which held last Wednesday was deadlocked, especially over payment of Academic Earned Allowances. However, the Benue State Governor and leader of the Federal Government’s negotiation team, Gabriel Suswam, told journalists after the Wednesday meeting that the deliberation with the leadership of ASUU was fruitful and that the meeting would continue today. He noted that with the progress made so far, “It is hoped that conclusions would be reached next week for ASUU to call off the strike.” According to him, the Finance Minister, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Director of the Budget Office had been co-opted, adding that the discussion was basically on academic earned allowances which had been more protracted.
Posted on: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 04:06:44 +0000
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