Saraki
Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki yesterday brokered a two-week deadline for the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to settle three outstanding issues.
The three issues out eight are said to be outstanding.
The resolution of the issues would avert a nationwide strike planned by ASUU.
Saraki personally participated in resumed negotiation between the Federal Ministry of Education and the leadership of ASUU held at the National Assembly yesterday.
Minister of Education Adamu Adamu took part in the negotiation.
The three outstanding issues yet to be resolved include “Earned Allowances”, which ASUU is asking to be paid to its members.
The Federal Government said N30 billion had already been paid for the purpose.
The government delegation to the meeting was said to have insisted that the audit of the usage of N30 billion should be made before further fund are released.
At their last meeting, the Senate Education Committee suggested that the government should give universities N1.5 billion monthly, which ASUU rejected on the basis that the amount was too meagre.
Another issue the meeting failed to resolve was payment of the salaries and allowances of the staff of university primary schools.
The payment of 15 per cent of the education budget for each year to the University Education Committees was another issue in contention.
ASUU President Biodun Ogunyemi thanked Saraki and the Senate Committee on Education for their intervention.
