The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has insisted to continue its strike unless the Federal Government meets all existing demands.
But the Federal Government on its part believes that the
ongoing strike would be called off soon, saying it was taken aback by the
renewed strike which university teachers embarked on on February 14, 2022.
Addressing the resumed conciliation meeting with the union
on Tuesday, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige said
government was surprised ASUU negated the understanding and assurances it gave
through the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council(NIREC) led by the Sultan of
Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar and the Chairman of the Christian Association of
Nigeria, Rev. Supo Ayokunle.
According to the Minister who was in Botswana for the
meeting of the African Regional Labour Administrative Centre (ARLAC) when ASUU
declared action, said he thought the university teachers and their employer,
the Ministry of Education would have resolved the areas of disputes within
days.
“I sincerely thought ASUU and the Ministry of Education
would have resolved the issues, which hopefully are not major areas of dispute,
warranting industrial action. To my surprise, I came back, and the strike is
still on. Be that as it may, it is the mandate of my Ministry to apprehend
industrial disputes wherever they occur and we have apprehended this.
“From this negotiation we are having today, ASUU will
appreciate that government means no harm. This is because even if there are
still lapses in implementation of agreement, they are not such that will lead
to industrial action. To that extent, we have to do everything possible to
resolve this.
But I must tell you that on the government side, they were
taken by surprise in that before then, NIREC met with you (ASUU) and reported
to the President. Having met with you (ASUU) and having given the details of
their meeting with you, we sincerely hoped we won’t again take this route of
industrial action. So, the government side is taken by surprise- Ministry of
Education, Ministry of Finance and all are taken aback.”
Ngige, however, assured that the strike had been apprehended
by his ministry and that the ongoing conciliation would prepare ground for an
expanded meeting which will involve NIREC.
“It is my mandate to apprehend industrial disputes and this
has been apprehended so we can discuss, and later expand to what is called
tripartite plus meeting, involving members of NIREC who are top religious and
traditional rulers, we cannot push aside. And that is as soon as we are done
and agree on issues here.”
The minister expressed optimism that the strike would be
called off soon to enable students go back to school.
“It should not be one month strike. In fact there is nothing
like one month strike or warning strike in labour parlance. Strike is strike.
We want this to end as soon as possible, as we sort out all grey areas in the
agreement as the ILO Principles At Work allows for renegotiation of Collective
Bargaining Agreement. So we go back to the draft agreement. We must avoid
another situation where our children bear the brunt of two elephants fighting,”
he added.