The Federal Government has agreed to provide N1.1 trillion into Nigerian universities over the next five years, even as the Academic Staff Union of Universities is expected to call off their strike within the next week.
Details emerged from the marathon session President Jonathan had with ASUU leaders from a reliable source who said it was agreed that FG would release N220 billion into the universities yearly beginning from 2014.
The source added, “The meeting should be the longest that we have ever had on this crisis but I can tell you that both parties were frank all through the discussions.
“The parties also showed commitment towards ending the crisis. The President in particular showed that he was serious about ending the strike and that was why he offered to release over N1tn to the universities in the next five years.
“The money will be released on a yearly basis at N220bn per annum beginning from 2014. For the outgoing year, the government will only release N100bn and this has been processed.”
He said that the government, in order to show its commitment to a fresh pact, accepted that “the fund(N1.1tn) should domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria”
“The money will be released on a quarterly basis to the universities. So, there won’t be any problem about funding the deal,” the source said.
The National Universities Commission and the Trade Union Congress, according to the source, will be the joint guarantors of the deal while the Minister of Education will be charged with implementation.
Another source with knowledge of the discussions between FG and ASUU said both sides had shifted grounds and should be back in school within the next one week.
“Both the Federal Government and the leadership of ASUU are now on the same page. Both parties have shifted grounds. The leadership of ASUU will now meet with its appropriate organ to brief its members and take the necessary action.
“ASUU is in the right position to inform the public after meeting with its organ. However, I can tell you that all things being equal, the strike should be over in the next one week.”