Students have reason to be hopeful, as ASUU and the government are in the midst of ‘advanced stage’ negotiations.

According to the union, re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has progressed to an advanced stage.

Members of the union were exhorted to remain focused until “the struggle” was over.

ASSU issued a memo titled “Strike bulletin number 6” on Sunday, which was signed by its National President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, and delivered to all union branches.

The union held five meetings with representatives of the Federal Government, two of which were with Adamu Adamu, the Minister of Education, according to the memo.

“Our iron-clad commitment has compelled the administration to sit down and negotiate with us,” the document stated.

“We’ve met with the Federal Government team five times and the Minister of Education twice.”

“The renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement is going well and has progressed to the next step.” We must, however, remain concentrated till the finish of this battle.

“For the third time, the University Transparency and Accountability Solution has been put to the test. The National Information Technology Development Agency has evaluated UTAS and the University Peculiar Personnel and Payroll System so far, and will begin testing the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System by the end of next week. The shenanigans of some government officials in this regard haven’t discouraged us.

“It is apparent that starvation, misinformation, factual distortions, intimidation, and other forms of coercion have failed to weaken our determination in the past; they should not do so now.”

“Fake news and contentious material from social media and a segment of the press should be ignored. If you have any questions, contact your chairman for clarification.

“We are on the verge of victory.” Let us continue to believe in the union. “A unified people can never be vanquished.”

On February 14, the union began a warning strike in protest of the federal government’s failure to honour agreements reached by both sides.

Since then, though, ASUU has prolonged the strike three times.