Buhari Meets Pro-chancellors Over Lingering ASUU Strike

President Muhammadu Buhari has met with pro-Chancellors of Federal Universities over the lingering Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.

Naija News reports that the Nigerian leader met with the Chairman and select members of Pro-Chancellors of Federal Universities at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday

Buhari, in a statement signed by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, said his government will continue to have discussions with ASUU leadership to end the seven-month strike.

President Buhari also promised to consult with relevant stakeholders in order to resolve the lingering industrial action without necessarily opposing already established policy.

“I will make further consultations, and I’ll get back to you,” he said.

In his remarks, the leader of the delegation, Professor Nimi Briggs, said the Pro-Chancellors had come to meet with the President to find a lasting solution to the incessant ASUU strike.

Briggs said despite the seven-month strike, the future of the university system in the country is good, following the listing of the University of Ibadan among the first 1,000 universities in the world.

He commended the Federal Government for concessions already made to the striking lecturers, including the offer to raise salaries by 23.5 per cent across the board, and 35 per cent for Professors.

Briggs, however, asked for “further inching up of the salary, in view of the economic situation of the country.”

He 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.