The federal government has inaugurated a seven-person committee with the responsibility of renegotiating the 2009 agreement it reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, at the inauguration of the committee on Monday in Abuja, gave it three months to conclude the renegotiation of the agreement with the union.

Mr Adamu said the committee was expected to review the draft proposed federal government/ASUU agreement and submit the report within three months from the date of inauguration.

He said the committee would liaise and consult with stakeholders to finalise the position of the federal government on the issues in the draft proposed FGN/ASUU Renegotiated Agreement.

The minister said the committee would also renegotiate in realistic and workable terms, the 2009 agreements with other university-based unions.

He further said the committee would negotiate and recommend any other issue it deemed relevant to reposition Nigeria’s university system for global competitiveness.

The committee is chaired by the Pro-Chancellor, Alex Ekweme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Nimi Briggs.

ASUU is currently on a one-month warning strike which commenced on February 14.

The academics are seeking improved welfare, revitalisation of public universities and university autonomy, among other demands.

(NAN)