ASUU - No More Talks With FG - Govt Begins Release of N130 Billion to Varsities

Leaders of striking university lecturers yesterday said they will no longer participate in discussions with government representatives until the agreement reached between the two sides in 2009 is implemented.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) began an indefinite strike on July 1, demanding the implementation of an agreement under which government will release N100 billion in 2012 and N400 billion from 2013 to 2015 to address infrastructure decay in the universities.

The two sides have held series of meetings to resolve the impasse, butthis has so far failed because of what ASUU said was an attempt by the government to renegotiate the 2009 deal. The latest discussions ended Tuesday with no headway and no date set for next deliberations.

Speaking at a news conference in Lagos yesterday, ASUU president Nasir Isa Fagge said the union would no longer make any concessions or attend meetings with the government until the previous agreement has been implemented.

"ASUU members nationwide are saying this strike will not be suspended until and unless the government respects the 2009 agreement and makes concrete efforts to implement it in the best interest of the country," he said.

"We insist that we are not going to make any concession anymore. It is either the government honour that agreement or the strike continues. And if government is interested in re-negotiating that agreement, it has to first implement what we first agreed on before we can commence process of renegotiation," he added.

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