Lai Mohammed claims ASUU Issue is not as simple as it appears.

The Federal Government has indicated that the ongoing conflict with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is complicated.

Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, stated this on Wednesday following a meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Despite the complexities, he stated that much is being done behind the scenes to resolve the issues.

The minister stated that the Federal Government is concerned about the long-running issues with the lecturers and will continue to work to find a quick solution.

ASUU has been on strike since February 14 over issues such as the implementation of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS), non-payment of salaries and allowances, and inadequate university funding, among others.

On Monday, the government and union officials continued their negotiations to end the four-month-long strike.

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However, the meeting between the striking lecturers and the Professor Nimi Briggs Committee ended without a concrete agreement because members planned to reconvene within 24 hours to consider a draft agreement.

Both parties held discussions at the Nigeria University Commission (NUC) in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

A senior member of the union, who attended the meeting, told Channels Television that they reached some agreements with the Federal Government but members had to take a break and reconvene within 24 hours to consider the new terms in the draft agreement.

The Federal Government set up the committee led by Professor Briggs on March 7 with a three-month mandate to renegotiate the 2009 ASUU/Federal Government agreement.