Buhari panics as ASUU Strike threatens legacy, meets universities Pro-Chancellors again

President Muhammadu Buhari nay have become perturbed by the prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) since February, which is perceived to threaten his legacy at the end of his second tenure in 2023. The president, therefore, had an emergency meeting on Friday with the Chairman and some members of Pro-Chancellors of Federal Universities in Abuja, where he promised to engage in further consultations with relevant stakeholders towards ending the protracted strike in the Nigerian universities.

President Buhari had said, “I will make further consultations, and I’ll get back to you.”

Leading the delegation of Pro-Chancellors for the meeting with the president, Professor Nimi Briggs, said they were at the State House to meet with President Buhari in his capacity “as President and Commander-in-Chief, as father of the nation, and as Visitor to the Federal universities.”

Professor Briggs assured that “the future of the university system in the country is good” despite the over seven months of industrial action,

Briggs commended the Federal Government for concessions made so far, including the offer to raise salaries by 23.5 per cent across board, and 35% for Professors.

Briggs demanded for “further inching up of the salary, in view of the economic situation of the country.”

The Pro-Chancellors also asked for a reconsideration of the No-Work, No-Pay decision of the federal government.

The Pro-Chancellors assured that lecturers would make up for time lost as soon as an amicable situation was reached, and schools reopened.