Asuu strike: FG’S: Offer is full of expectations and hope

After thirteen hours of
negotiations, the President
of the Academic Staff Union
of Universities (ASUU) Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge on tuesday
morning was not forthcoming
with the new Federal
Government's offer as he
insisted that his members
have the final say on the issue.
Speaking with State House
correspondents,he said that
the meeting with President
Goodluck Jonathan discussed
how to tackle the problem of University education system
in the country.
He 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."
Also speaking with journalists at the end of the meeting,
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.