Hope of the ongoing faceoff between the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and the Federal Government being settled before the year runs out may suffer a setback today, Wednesday, as the union is set to further tackle the government on its claims about offers made to the union.
Also, the union may also fault claims of the government on the exact salaries being owed the lecturers.
A source in the union told our correspondent that most of the claims made by the Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, were not what the sides agreed to at their last meeting last month.
The development, it was gathered, could further lead to a breakdown in the negotiation between the two parties.
When contacted on the phone, the National President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, told our correspondent to await a statement that would be issued later in the day.
“I know why you are calling me, please, we are going to make a formal response in our statement later today, wait for that, “he said.
Recall that Ngige said the union promised to suspend the strike today, Wednesday, saying it was part of a gentleman’s agreement they had.lat their last meeting.
The minister also said the government is owing the lecturers only July to October 2020 salaries, while the union is saying that some of its members are being owed eight months.
The union has been on strike since March this year.