Government, NASU, SSANU resume talks as research workers suspend strike

Hope of a possible resumption of activities in federal universities was raised, yesterday, as the Federal Government, Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) resumed negotiation on the 2009 agreements.

This came as the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) suspended its indefinite strike over unresolved issues with the Federal Government.

To reopen federal universities, the government resumed talks with the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU and NASU.

The conciliation meeting, which began at 2:00 p.m. in Abuja, saw the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, expressing hope that the parley would be truthful, fruitful and cordial.

JAC’s spokesman, Peters Adeyemi, believed that government would take urgent action to reopen the ivory towers.

Specifically, the NASU scribe stressed the pain Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) had subjected its members to.

He decried the non-payment of arrears of the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage, which had lasted for four years.

ASURI communicated the suspension of its industrial action to the minister via a letter signed by the Secretary-General, Theophilus Ndubuaku.

Acting Head, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Patience Onuobia, quoted the letter as saying the suspension of the strike takes immediate effect.