JUST IN: Resolve ASUU Issues Within Two Weeks, Buhari Directs Education Minister
POLITICS DIGEST – President Muhammadu Buhari has issued a two-week ultimatum to the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, within which to resolve the lingering strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other university-based unions.
The ultimatum followed a briefing he received from heads of relevant ministries and parastatals who he summoned to a meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.
The president had summoned them to get more information on why the strike had persisted for too long.
It would be recalled that ASUU had commenced one month warning strike on February 14, and other unions also joined them over the alleged inability of the federal government to meet up with their demands.
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After Tuesday’s briefing, the President ordered the education minister to ensure that the areas of disagreements were sorted out within two weeks and report back to him.
Sources at the meeting also said Buhari directed that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, must be in the meetings to resolve the crisis.
The sources added that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, should be part of the team to interface with the striking unions.
Other top government officials in attendance at the meeting were the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr. Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, the Chairman of National Salaries Income and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta, and the Director-General Budget Office, Ben Akabueze.
