By Damilare Adeleye
The meeting between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) has been described by both parties declaring as fruitful.
However, they told newsmen after the meeting that they would reconvene on September 6, to review progress made so far in the decisions reached.
Both parties were also evasive on issues addressed during the meeting that lasted nearly two hours on Wednesday.
Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, addressing the press, said the meeting resolved that ASUU leadership would take decisions reached to members and return with feedback on the next adjourned date.
Also, within the two-week window, the government is expected to act on some agreements reached at the meeting.
Prof. Mamman said, โWe have had a very fruitful discussion. We have worked out modalities on how to make progress with them.
โSo the task before us now is to work on those modalities to solving the problems.
โSo we are coming back again, reconvening on the 6th of September, to report back progress, towards the resolution of the issues.
โThis is basically what we have agreed on.โ
On his part, ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said: โActually, we have met to discuss all the issues and what they (government) have done between the last time we met and today.
โWe have reviewed them and agreed that let also give the government between now and our next meeting, to see what they would have done on these issues.
โSo, we are meeting again on the 6th of September.
โAnd hopefully, we hope that in the interest of Nigerian students and Nigeria as a country, these issues should be amicably resolved, so that we can have a very smooth academic system in the country, Nigeria.โ
Asked to explain what issues were discussed and the agreement reached, both parties refused to speak further.
The meeting came following recent threat by the university lecturersโ union to down tools over the alleged federal governmentโs failure to meet its demands.
