ASUU update

The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, will meet today on the ongoing strike embarked upon by university lecturersover the non- implementation of the 2009 FG/ASUU agreement.
Last week, the two opposing sides had met with the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committeeon Education to find a solution to the crisis, so students could go back to school, but the meeting ended in deadlock and the two groups were told to go back and review their positions to come back on a latter date.
But the Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Rufa’I, while fielding questions from newsmen, yesterday, disclosed that the Federal Government hadno other option than to meet with the union to resolve the crisis, so students can return to school.
Prof. Rufa’I said: “Government has no option but to make efforts to resolve ASUU crisis. Mr. President is concerned, everybody is concerned, definitely, efforts will have to be made to have students back in classrooms.
“So we are pleading with our colleagues in ASUU to call off the strike but we are meeting with them, we are meeting tomorrow (today).