The Nigerian Senate has intervened in the current crisis between the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and the Federal Government.
The development has led to the declaration of a two-week warning strike by the union.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Senator Muntari Dandutse, made this public after a meeting with the union at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
While acknowledging “the concerns and frustrations” that had prompted the strike, Dandutse assured that the committee would treat the issues raised by ASUU with utmost seriousness.
It was gathered that Dandutse, after a closed-door session, said the committee resolved to communicate its position to the Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission.
ASUU President, Professor Christopher Piwuna, had earlier confirmed that the union had commenced a two-week warning strike.
“Unfortunately, the journey that led us to where we are today did not start with this executive,” he said.
Piwuna explained that the key issue in the draft agreement remained sustainable funding for tertiary institutions.
ASUU president urged the Senate to intervene in the dispute over land belonging to the University of Abuja, which the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT had allegedly revoked.
Piwuna also called on the Senate to prioritise budgetary allocations to the education sector to improve the condition of Nigerian universities.
