Yusuf Bello| The federal government on Friday said it will resume talks with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) by next week in an effort to end the lingering strike by lecturers.
According to a statement by the acting spokesman of the federal ministry of labour and employment, Patience Onuobia, labour and employment minister, Chris Ngige, made the disclosure in his opening remark at a meeting with the striking National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).
“As a conciliator, I manage you people in measured steps. That is why I want to take all of you holistically and I ask for your cooperation. When I finish with you today, I will continue with ASUU next week,” Ngige was quoted to have said.
“I have done NASU and SSANU yesterday and they were happy. I want you people to be happy as we leave here.”
According to the minister, the strikes in the education sector could have been averted if the unions embraced his open-door policy.
“If you are from any union, you don’t need to book an appointment to see me. The doctors started using that advantage, and JOHESU also did the same. That is why the health sector is quiet. But the education unions don’t take advantage of my open-door policy,” Ngige said.
“We don’t have to cry over spilt milk. Let us look at your issues to see the ones we can handle immediately, the ones we can do in the medium term and the ones we can do in the long term. There are certain ones that are over and above me, that are not in my hands to do.
“My job is to prepare an agreement after conciliation on what you have agreed with your employers, the Federal Ministry of Education, put timelines and monitor them, to see whether the results will be there.”
According to the minister, the strikes in the sector were mainly due to economic reasons and with dialogue, the solution would be reached.
Friday’s move is the government’s latest effort to end the strike which was embarked on by ASUU on February 14, 2022.
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