ASUU READY TO RESUME NEGOTIATIONS WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

The striking lecturers have made a call to the Federal Government to resume negotiation with them on the stalled deal that triggered their strike on June 22, and has since paralysed academic activities in all public universities.
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) President, Ukachukwu Awuzie, made the plea on Tuesday when he addressed a press conference at Labour House in Yaba, Lagos.
Those at the briefing also included ASUU Ibadan Zonal Co-ordinator, Emma Agisegiri; ASUU Secretary, Mike Odumorayo, ASUU Chairman at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Adesola Nassir; and University of Lagos chapter Chairman, Ayo Olowe.

Students chanted songs and displayed placards, some of which read: 'Save our education in Nigeria,''What we want is quality, public education,''Brain drain has stolen our best heads away,''killing education means killing the future,' and 'Government officials can afford to destroy public education because their children school abroad.'

Awuzie said although the government team pulled out of the negotiation, the ASUU is ready to return to the talks and would wish this to happen soonest, for the good of the students, their parents, the university education system, and the good people of Nigeria.
He asked the government team to get a clear mandate from its principals to abide by the principle of collective bargaining by completing the process started in 2006 and by signing the agreement.
He urged government officials to bring along the list of all contentious issues to be negotiated and agreed upon, as directed by Vice President, Goddluck Jonathan, on July 29.