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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
As part of efforts to resolve the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Federal Government has invited pro-chancellors, vice chancellors and chairmen of governing councils of federal universities to a meeting in Abuja, on September 6.
The meeting, convened by the National Universities Commission (NUC), said that participants would review actions of the government on the strike.
The letter inviting the heads of the universities to the meeting was signed by the NUC’s Deputy Executive Secretary, Administration, Chris Maiyaki, on Tuesday.
ASUU began its ongoing strike on February 14, due to what it described as “failure” on the part of the government to meet its demands
The demands include the payment of earned allowances, payment of revitalisation funds to universities, creation of visitation panels and implementation of the University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) instead of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) for the payment of workers in the ivory towers.
ASUU, after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Sunday and Monday, said it had decided to declare “a comprehensive, total and indefinite strike” because of the government’s failure to meet its demands.
In its invitation letter, NUC said the meeting on September 6 with pro-chancellors and vice chancellors would review actions taken on the strike by university unions with a view to reaching a consensus.
“As the pro-chancellors and chairmen of councils and the vice-chancellors are quite aware the industrial action by University-based unions has led to the closure of the institutions since February 2022.
“You are also aware that the non-teaching unions have suspended their industrial actions with effect from 24th August, 2022, while a final decision is being awaited from the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
“It has become necessary for the governing councils and the managements of the universities to be briefed on the decisions and actions taken by the Federal Government so far to allow for a well coordinated review of the situation including building consensus around succeeding actions.
“Consequently, I am to invite the pro-chancellors and chairmen of councils as well as vice-chancellors of federal universities to a special interactive meeting with the Honourable Minister of Education on Tuesday, September 6,2022,” the letter read.
Although the letter did not contain the detailed agenda of the meeting, there were reports that it would discuss options for financing universities, including the N10,000 levy suggested by the Parent-Teacher Association, in view of the cash crunch and budget deficit the government was battling.