ASUU’S MARATHON MEETING WITH JONATHAN ENDS WITH PROMISE TO CONSULT

The meeting between leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU) and the Federal Government officials led by President Goodluck Jonathan ended Tuesday morning, without striking University lectures calling off their 4 months old strike.

The 13-hour meeting  however ended with ASUU leaders promising to consult with their members .

“We are taking a message from President Goodluck Jonathan to our members” ASUU President Fagge told newsmen after the meeting.

He declined to speak further on agreements reached at the meeting.

Labour Minister also simply told newsmen, ” the ASUU leaders have a good message from the President for their members.

Updated:

The ASUU president after the meeting said:

“Well we have had lengthy meeting with Mr. President, rubbing minds on how best to address the problem of University education in this country.”

“And we now have a message from Mr. President we are going to take to our members. And we are expecting that our members will respond appropriately to the message of Mr. President.”

On whether the lecturers are going back to the classroom, he said: “That is up to our members.”

Asked what the message was, he said: “I can’t tell you. Its not for you. It is for our members.”

If impressed with the message, he said: “Don’t put words into my mouth. Our members will determine that.”

While the Minister of Labour Emeka Wogu said: “We made progress, the President of ASUU told you that they are going back with a message from the Federal Government back to their members. And the message is full of high expectations and hope.”

On whether the strike will be called off, he said: “That is why the message is full of high expectations and hope. So our prayers is that they come back with positive outcome. They might not even come back to meet us, they might take decisions there that will meet your expectations.”

“Nigerians should be patient for ASUU to finish their meetings and come out with a message to Nigerians.”

Responding to whether the Federal Government made a fresh offer, her said: “Well, the offer we made are the offer they are taking in line with the 2009 agreement. The issues that led to the strike are issues contained in the 2009 agreement and we did not go beyond the agreement.”