ASUU Strike likely to be called off on Monday

The Minister of Education, Professor Ruqquayatu Ahmed Rufa’i has assured that the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) would before long call off its strike, with the passage of the bill on the retirement age of professors from 65 years to 70 years.

Rufa’i said this in Abuja yesterday at the meeting with Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities, saying the bill which was passed on Wednesday would soon be passed into law as soon as the President Goodluck Jonathan endorses it.

Rufa’i disclosed that the Federal Government would hold another meeting with the union on Monday to finally resolve the lingering problems with the union to allow students resume their academic programs at the universities.

The meeting with Vice Chancellors was the first for the year and it is to chart a better course for Nigerian universities and review status of activities within the system.

The minister expressed concern over the proliferation of Honorary Doctorate Degrees in Nigerian universities which she said has tarnished the image of the sub-sector and advised Vice Chancellors to follow the extant tradition of checking the eligibility and credibility of the recipients in order not to make it an all-comers affair.
She also reiterated that universities must submit in advance, their schedules for convocation ceremonies in order to streamline the planning procedures and ensure sufficient processing time for the approval of the visitor.