Abuja: The Federal Government has agreed to release the sum of N220 billion not later than October 2017 as part of efforts towards honouring the 2009 agreement it reached with ASUU.
The fund is targeted at the revitalisation of federal universities across the country.
This commitment was made at a reconciliation meeting between ASUU and government which started at 2:30pm on Thursday, ended about 2:15 Friday morning.
At the end of the over eight hours of negotiation,Minister of Labour and Employment,Chris Ngige, told newsmen that “in line with the 2009 agreement government had with ASUU, it had pledged to release the sum of N220 billion not later than October 2017 to fund the revitalization of federal universities across the country”.
Ngige also said the closed-door meeting discussed how to set up the National Universities Pension Commission.
ASUU President, Biodun Ogunyemi, who also addressed the media at the end of the meeting, expressed optimism that the industrial action would be called off if the government showed commitment to address the concerns raised.
He admitted that the proposals made by government were concrete but said ASUU representatives at the meeting would take the offers made to members for consideration.
The meeting was also attended by the ministers of education, officials of the Income and Salaries and Wages Commission, the Senior Special Assistance to the President on National Assembly matters, the NLC and a host of others.
