Following a successful meeting with the Federal Government on Friday, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has agreed to call off its eight-month strike which has grounded academic activities in the public universities since March.
The government team led by Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige pledged to pay N40 billion as the earned allowance and N30 billion for the revitalisation of the university system, bringing the total payment to N70 billion.
The government also agreed to pay the arrears of salaries of the lecturers before December 31.
Ngige told reporters after the meeting: “Many issues were discussed at the meeting including salary shortfall, the payment system and revitalisation of the university system. I am positive that all the issues would be resolved at our next meeting.”
ASUU President Prof Biodun Ogunyemi corroborated all the minister said but declined further comments.
The union is expected to report the agreement to its organs and then communicate their decision to the government, after which a date would be announced to call off the strike.
The breakthrough comes about a week after the Federal Government accepted the demand by ASUU for them to be exempted from the integrated payroll and personnel information system pending the approval of their proposed payment system, the university transparency and accountability solution.
