Ebun Francis || Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s Vice President will not be taking over the negotiations between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities contrary to the comments made by Dr Chris Ngige, the minister of Labour and Productivity at the end of the federal executive council meeting on Wednesday.
Ngige had at the end of the FEC meeting told Journalist that the Vice President will take over the negotiations with the lectures.
But the Presidency on Friday said the minister was represented.
The presidency’s clarification was contained in a statement by Laolu Akande, the spokesperson to Osinbajo who said his principal will not take over the negotiation.
‘‘Media reports seemed to have misrepresented what Labour & Employment Minister, Dr Chris Ngige meant when he spoke with reporters about the negotiations after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.”
According to Akande, the “Vice President had a discussion after FEC with both the Labour Minister and Education Minister Malam Adamu Adamu around the issues but has not taken over the negotiations as widely reported.
”Adamu and Ngige “will continue to lead the FG- ASUU talks.”
“The Federal Government continues to diligently pursue a prompt resolution of this dispute and is confident the matter would be resolved,” he added.
The lecturers, ASUU, are on an indefinite national strike over issues ranging from welfare of members and the unwillingness of the federal government to honour past agreements with the union.