The Federal Government has, once more, guaranteed Nigerians that the protracted Academic Staff Union of Universities’ (ASUU) strike will soon be resolved.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, gave this guarantee while speaking at a recent meeting with ASUU, on Tuesday.
Part payment of the arrears of salaries were said to have been made to the university lecturers, as per the agreement reached with the union.
A number of the lecturers confirmed that payment of their two months’ salary arrears had been made.
While responding to a supposed ultimatum served by some concerned students, Ngige expressed optimism by setting a January 15, 2021 date for the resolution of the strike.
The Minister, however, stated that he was yet to receive any letter as regards threats of the students’ proposed protests in the event the strike did not end swiftly.
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“The government would disappoint all those wishing for the protests as all the matters in dispute must have been resolved by January 15,” Ngige waxed lyrical.
“Those who want to use the #EndASUU protest to destroy public and private property or lecturers homes will be disappointed.”
“I am optimistic that the meeting will produce the final result that will make everybody happy,” he said.
Ngige calmed ASUU, saying that the Federal Government were working on trashing out every fine detail so as to ensure a speedy end to the issue.
“We are hopeful that ASUU will then take the report of what we achieved today to their members. We allow social dialogue in line with ILO conventions for all employers and employee, to guide this meeting,” Ngige said.
On his part, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, the ASUU President, consoled the students but hinted that the move was necessary in order to properly rectify the matter.
“No amount of sacrifice would be too much to get the matter resolved as long as the government is consistent with its commitments,” Ogunyemi pointed out.
He also explained that, though the body were open to ending the matter, the National Executive Committee of ASUU were the only ones who could announce the suspension of the strike.
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