ASUU vs FG: Meeting ends in deadlock

Today's meeting between the Federal Government and ASUU has ended in a deadlock. The minister of Education briefed journalists at the end of the meeting which was chaired by the Secretary to the Federal Government, pleading with lecturers and students to understand the predicament of the government. No mention was made for when discussions will continue.The minister claims that the federal government could not start implementing some of the points of its 2009 agreement with ASUU because some governing councils of some universities were reconstituted.ASUU chairman, Prof. Nwachuckuw Awuzie left the venue without answering questions from the media.ASUU had commenced a nationwide strike on Monday after a November 30 deadline for government's implementation of the agreement elapsed without government meeting its obligation. So far, the strike action has achieved almost full complaince from universities across the country.The agreement is supposed to provide for improved funding of universities, Federal financial assistance for universities owned by state governments, payment of earned allowances including supervision of industrial attachment and teaching practices, increment of retirement age for professors from 65 to 70 and increased salaries for lecturers.ASUU had initially said it would not listen to any pleas or engage in any negotiation with government, insisting that only a full implementation of the pending agreements would stop the strike and it was unclear if they would attend today's meeting.
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