House of Reps broker new agreement with ASUU over lingering strike,awaits Buhari’s approval

House of Reps broker new agreement with ASUU over lingering strike, awaits Buhari’s approval

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the federal government have reached a new agreement.

After four hours of meeting at the National Assembly in Abuja, the leadership of the House of Representatives brokered a new agreement on Tuesday.

The agreement, however, is subject to President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval, who is currently attending the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York.

Emmanuel Osodeke, President of ASUU, led the Union to the meeting, while Goodluck Opiah, Minister of State for Education, represented the federal government.

Following the closed-door session, meeting chair Femi Gbajabiamila announced that the meeting produced some agreements, but he did not specify which ones.

He stated that the lawmakers will present the agreement to President Buhari upon his arrival and that ASUU will do the same for their members.

“There were basically seven areas where ASUU has presented what we considered to be requisition for them to go back to strike. We have looked at the seven areas, we have more or less agreed on certain things.

“Once that is done, the leadership of this house will await the return of Mr President from the ongoing General Assembly. We will meet with Mr President. We will lay the agreement reached by the legislative arm of government. I am hopeful that Mr President will buy into the agreement and with that, I believe that this matter will be speedily brought to a close,” he said.

To discuss this further, lawmakers will meet with the National Information Technology Development Agency, the Accountant General of the Federation, the Auditor General of the Federation, and the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission on Thursday.

The ASUU president stated during the meeting that the issue will be resolved soon.

“It is a good development and we are waiting for what they will send to us to commit our members. We hope that in the immediate future, this issue will be resolved.