The last round of talks between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, or ASUU, and other unions representing tertiary education has commenced.
During a meeting of the ASUU Technical Working Group on Conditions of Service on Wednesday in Abuja, Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, revealed this information.
The group is finalizing a counter-offer to be delivered to the unions through the Allied General United Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Negotiations Committee, Alausa said, adding that unresolved concerns will soon be resolved to avert additional industrial action.
The minister emphasized that President Bola Tinubu’s direction that every attempt be made to keep Nigerian pupils in school and prevent interruptions to the academic calendar is in line with the committee’s work.
“The President has stated unequivocally that our kids must continue attending school. A component of the condition of service that must be proposed is being finalized by the technical working group. They are in the process of completing a counteroffer.
“Hopefully, that counteroffer to ASUU will reach the Allied General United Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expected Negotiations Committee by the end of today, or at the latest tomorrow,” he stated.
He continued by saying that the current administration has already made great strides in paying the N50 billion in Earned Academic Allowance that Tinubu had made available.
