The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has revealed that the body did not enter into any form of agreement with the federal government before the eight-month strike action was called off.
ASUU president, Emmanuel Osodeke, disclosed this on Monday during a meeting with the leadership of the House of Representatives.
Recall that ASUU called off its eight-month-old strike action after the Appeal Court upheld the decision of the National Industrial Court (NIC) which ruled that lecturers should return to classrooms.
However, before the ruling by the court, the House had brokered some agreements between the union and the executive.
In the meeting, Mr. Osodeke said the lecturers acted in good faith by calling off the strike without any written agreement.
“The strike we called off, our members did it based on trust in us and the way the speaker has intervened—three meetings now—it was on that basis we were able to convince them.
“What we agreed on the issue of IPPIS and UTAS is a temporary measure. We were challenged to do it. We had to spend our money and our resources. In 2020, we were challenged to produce it, he said.
In his reactions to the comment made by ASUU president, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila said there is no need for ASUU to request a written agreement that the House is working with the executive.
He cited the provision of N470 billion in the 2023 budget by President Muhammadu Buhari and the agreement to adjust the IPPIS to accommodate the peculiarities of ASUU.
Mr. Gbajabiamila also announced that the House will host an education summit to address the issues facing the sector.
Also speaking, the acting Accountant General of the Federation, Okolieaboh Sylva said the government is compiling the peculiarities of ASUU and amending the IPPIS accordingly.
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