The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities have again failed to reach a compromise to end the ongoing strike by the university lecturers.
Senator Chris Ngige , Minister of Labour and Employment while addressing newsmen after a closed -door meeting with the union on Friday in Abuja said the meeting was protracted.
He said , “ The meeting was protracted, but the good news is that we have gotten to the end of the tunnel.
“ We met them halfway and we have finished the gray areas and on the issue of N50 billion , we have offered what we have.
“ We do not have N50 billion and we cannot do N 50 billion , but we have offered them something reasonable .
“ So they have to take it back , and go and present to their members” .
Ngige , however , expressed hope that students would return to school soon , saying “ We will know when they will go back by Thursday ” .
Earlier , Prof . Biodun Ogunyemi , ASUU President said the meeting had been adjourned to February 7.
“ So , far on the level of progress made so far , I cannot tell you that now until I tell my members .
“ It is the feedback of the last meeting we came to present to government today .
“ But right now, we have a new set of information that we have to go and present to our members . Until we tell our members , we cannot tell you , ” he said .
Ogunyemi noted that progress had been made on the ongoing negotiations .
He added that “We are making progress and the progress we are making is for everybody ’ s interest and stakeholders will benefit at the end of the day .
“ We will be meeting on Thursday , after which , we will address the press.
“ We have dealt with all areas , so the progress we have made must first be related to our members.
“ So until we tell them, and they tell us what to do that , that is only when we can relate to the press. The meeting is adjourned till Thursday .
The strike commenced on November 5 , 2018.
The lecturers are demanding for the implementation of some agreements with the Federal Government since November 2009 .
It was gathered that one of their major demands is the implementation of university revitalisation fund.
( NAN)
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