ASUU: Lecturers give update on strike as FG meets major demand

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has provided update on the ongoing strike as the Federal Government, yesterday, met one of its major demands.

This is as the union has received the certificate of operation for Nigerian University Pension Management Company, NUPEMCO, from the National Pension Commission.

The refusal of the regulatory agency to approve the teachers’ union’s pension commission for operation has been one of the major issues in the dispute between ASUU and the Federal Government.

However, the National Pension Council, the regulatory agency for the country’s pension companies, granted the union the certificate of operation on Monday.

ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, in a short message sent across to members of the union, yesterday, said ASUU received the certificate at about 11:20 a.m.

The message reads, “Dear Comrade, We collected the final letter of approval of NUPEMCO operational license at about 11.20a.m in PENCOM office. Profound appreciation goes to all who prepared the ground and made this possible.

“While congratulating all our members for this landmark achievement of the union, we also thank them for their patience. The struggle continues! Biodun Ogunyemi.”

Prof. Ogunyemi earlier told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that the leadership was still consulting with its members over offers made by the federal government.

He said the government made some offers in the course of meetings with ASUU, which are still being deliberated on.

“We are still consulting with our chapters across the country. There are promises that government made and we are trying to consult with the various university chapters on the options before the union.

“By the time we are fully aware of what is left of our demands from what the government is offering, then we will know what steps to take, even as negotiations with the government continues.

“For instance, we are in touch with about 20 universities that are affected, to be sure of the level of implementation.

“By the time we finish our assessment, we will now send our response back to the government, concerning the level of implementation.

“And depending on the outcome of our further engagements with government, we will now get back to our members,” he said.

Ogunyemi said ASUU was expected to be involved in another round of meeting with the government within the week, adding that he expected a positive outcome.