The meeting held in Abuja by the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the federal government on Tuesday, August 16, has strike a balanced agreement. As it stands, the six month old strike by public university lecturers is said to continue.

According to report, the Union on Tuesday, had a meeting with the Professor Nimi Briggs Committee at the National University commission (NUC) in Abuja with high hopes of resolving the situation.

A senior member of the ASUU whose name was not revealed that the Members of the Briggs renegotiation committee did not come with any new offer on the table.

The ASUU source stated that the committee instead pleaded with the lecturers to suspend the ongoing strike with promises that their concerns will be included in the 2023 budget.

As reported, the meeting which commenced at about 12pm, lasted for three hours without reaching an agreement.

Recalling the request of ASUU from FG, ASUU went on four week warning strike February 14, In March, the Union extended the industrial action by another two months to allow the government meet all of its demands. In May, the lecturers union announced a 12 weeks extension and since May 9, the Union has remained on strike, promising  never to resume until their demands is approved.

The Academic presently are seeking for the improvement of welfare revitalization of Public universities UTAS payment platform in place of IPPIS, an academic autonomy, among other demands. The top request is the non payment of university revitalization funds, which amount to about N1.1 trillion. The federal government replying to this request said such amount of money is not available stating the low oil prices during the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, and also the issue of the integrated payroll and personnel information system (IPPIS). The lecturers have requested an alternative payroll system, the University Transparency and Accountability solution (UTAS)

However, Pelumi Olajengbesi, a lawyer, has appealed to chief executive officers of banks and billionaire businessmen including Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, Abdul Samad Rabiu, and Mike Adenuga to pay off the N1.1 trillion demands by ASSU.

According to the lawyer, the federal government has shown irresponsibility and nonchalant attitudes in resolving the ongoing ASUU strike since February 14, 2022.

The lawyer, however encouraged the businessmen to rise to and act just as they did during the time of COVID-19 pandemic when their financial intervention contributed immensely to Nigeria in fighting against the life threatening disease.