BREAKING: ASUU Strike "Will End Today" - Jonathan (UPDATED)

There have been indications that after today's meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the four month strike of the lecturers may finally end. As of 11.50 pm, the meeting was still ongoing. The FG is reported to be desperate to work out an agreement with ASUU.

L-R - President Goodluck Jonathan in a handshake with the President of Academic Staff Union of Universities, Dr.Nasiru Isa Fagge. With them is Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi during the meeting with the President at the State House Abuja on Monday. PHOTO: AKIN OLAD
A closed-door meeting has started on Monday at 2:40 pm inside the First Lady Conference Room, Presidential Villa, Abuja. The parties are still negotiating, as of 23:50 pm, which means the marathon-like meeting lasts for eight (!!!) hours now.

Indications that the strike which is now into its 5th month may be resolved have emerged when the President stated, while shaking hands with ASUU Chairman Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge:
"My president, I hope it will end today. Our children have suffered enough. We must find a solution."
All those in attendance responded with a loud "amen."
When greeting the NLC President, Abdulwahab Omar, Jonathan said:
"My president with you around today, there will be no problem, our agreement is signed, sealed and delivered."
This is the first meeting between the lecturers and Jonathan since the beginning of the strike. The Presidency took over negotiations with the striking lecturers September 19, with the Vice-President Namadi Sambo spearheading the FG side.


The lecturers were seen meeting among themselves in their bus during the break that has started at 6.30 pm. No details of there discussion have been yet made known.
Apart from Fagge and Jonathan, the meeting has in attendance the President, Vice President, Namadi Sambo; Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim; Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike; and Minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu among others.
The ASUU is presented by Prof. Abdulahi Sule-Kano, Prof. Dipo Fashina and Prof. Festus Iyayi, Prof. Suleiman Abdul, and Prof. Abdullahi Sule-Kano. President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Abdulawahid Omar and that of the Trade Union Congress, Bobboi Kaigama, are also there.

It will be recalled, that ASUU has embarked upon an indefinite strike July 1, 2013. The lecturers protest against an alleged FG’s failure to honor an agreement signed between the government and ASUU in 2009 pertaining to issues of university funding and improvement of infrastructure in the sector. So far all the attempts to come to an agreement between the FG and ASUU have been fruitless.
We will keep you updated...