There are no indications that the ongoing trade dispute between the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Federal Government is nearing its end.
This was in spite of talks by the Minister of Labour Chris Ngige, who said that the government team had a “fruitful discussion” with the unions at the weekend.
ASUU President Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, said that all talks by Ngige are merely political statements.
Sources close to the unions which also include the non-academic staff unions and those of the Polytechnic and Colleges of Education, the unions are resolved on continuing with the strikes as long as the Federal Government is not ready to yield to the demands.
The Federal Government had initiated another meeting with the union which was headed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Agboola Ibrahim Gambari.
But sources said that the only outcome of that meeting was the directive that the disputed payment platforms of both the government and those suggested by the ASUU should be subjected to new tests for integrity.
The committee directed to do this will submit its reports in three weeks.
“Time is going but government seems not to be in a hurry to end this strike,” said a member of ASUU who said he is he not authorized to speak for the union.
“Even when people suggested that we should go back to work for three months and allow what the government wants to do, it is only to collect pending salaries and then the strike resumes for God knows how long again. The university system is collapsing and government appears not interested in saving it,” said the ASUU member.