Representatives of the Federal Government and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) met on Wednesday to avert an impending industrial action by university lecturers and will reconvene again on September 6.

The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, disclosed this in Abuja, saying the government is working with ASUU to fashion out modalities to address the contentious issues.

He announced that a new executive of the leadership of pro-chancellors has been formed to address the concerns raised by the lecturers.

Similarly, a joint committee comprising ASUU, the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Ministry of Labour has been set up to escalate the implementation of all residual issues especially those with presidential directives.

To the minister, the meeting would reconvene next week to take feedback and progress reports on the various levels of implementation.

ASUU is also expected to provide detailed information on unpaid salaries of staff on sabbatical, part-time and adjunct appointments due to the application of the IPPIS as well as outstanding third-party deductions to enable the Ministry of Education to forward same to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for further action.

A few days ago, the varsity lecturers threatened to down tools over the alleged Federal Government’s failure to meet its demands.

The crux of the meeting which originally was scheduled for Monday but failed to hold and was subsequently postponed, was essentially to prevent another nationwide strike in the sector and ensure security is upscaled across the universities.

Mamman highlighted the Federal Government’s desire to deepen security in the education system, asserting that the government will continue to do what is right and ensure that students remain on campus.