Nasarawa State University pulls out of ASUU strike, to commence academic activities

The Nasarawa State University, Keffi is set to pull out of a strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, paving way for the commencement of academic activities in the institution.

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, gave this hint on Wednesday while presiding over the fifth State Executive Council in Lafia, the state capital.

According to him, the state government has agreed to shoulder the responsibility for the payment of salaries of the staff of the university.

Mr Sule noted that taking over the salary payment was one of the key demands by the local chapter of the ASUU.

The governor added with available finances to the state and because of the premium importance his administration attached to education, the state government will begin the salary from this month.

According to Mr Sule, the management of the university, as well as the non-teaching unions namely the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, NASU, have all agreed to open the university.

“One of the conditions they gave to us, the most important condition, is to ensure that we take over the full payment of salaries of all the staff, so that they don’t have to use their IGR.

“As far as we are concerned, we looked at our finances and we strongly believe that, based on the cash flow we have available to us and also because of the importance we attach to education, we should be able to start that from this month.

“That is what we are looking forward to doing. We are also hoping they will compliment by the moment we start the payment hopefully by Thursday or Friday, then we are hoping to see them also returning to their classes,” he stated.