The Pro-Chancellors also asked for a reconsideration of the no-work, no-pay stance of the government.
By Jeffrey Agbo
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met with some pro-chancellors of federal universities over the protracted strike by university lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The pro-chancellors were led to the meeting by Professor Nimi Briggs, who said they came 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.”
He added that despite the pall cast by more than seven months of industrial action, “the future of university system in the country is good,” citing as example the recent listing of the University of Ibadan among the first 1,000 universities in the world, a development occurring for the first time.
Prof Briggs commended the Federal Government for concessions already made to the lecturers, including the offer to raise salaries by 23.5% across board, and 35% for professors. He, however, asked for “further inching up of the salary, in view of the economic situation of the country.”
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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.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, quoted Buhari as promising to engage in further consultations with relevant stakeholders towards ending the strike.
“I will make further consultations, and I’ll get back to you,” Buhari said.
Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opiah, said all the concessions made by the Federal Government were to ensure that the industrial action comes to an end, but ASUU has remained adamant.