ASUU begins consultation over FG offer.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities met across the country to discuss the offer made by the federal government during the marathon meeting, Monday night/Tuesday morning.

The striking public universities lecturers met in the nine zones of ASUU with branch chairmen to discuss the outcome of the meeting with the President. The meetings presided over by zonal coordinators afforded them (zonal coordinators) the opportunity to brief the branch chairmen about the offer made by the Federal Government to revamp the public universities across the country.

The Ibadan zone of ASUU held its meeting at the Federal University Abeokuta on Thursday while that of the North Central Zone took place at the Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State.

Sources at both meetings said that though the union officials were not happy that the N400bn per year they asked for was not granted, they were however happy at the sincerity of purpose displayed by President Jonathan.

Though they expressed varied opinion about the offer, they were unanimous in commending Jonathan for being the first Nigerian leader to meet with the union.

When contacted, the Coordinator of the North Central Zone, Dr. Suleiman Mohammad declined comments on the meeting. Mohammed, who said he was attending to some pressing issues, said only the ASUU President could speak on the issue. But feelers across the zones, however, suggested that the lecturers might have accepted the offer of the government.

Although branch chairmen still have to call congresses, it was gathered that the union may have made up its mind to call off the strike after meeting with the Federal Government again next week.

Culled from The Punch.