The Federal Government is set to resume talks with the executives of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, next week over rhe prolonged closure of Nigerian public universities as a result of the lecturers strike.
However, no date has been announced yet for the meeting, which is widely believed to be instigated by the threat by the National Association of Nigerian Students to prevent any party primary in the coming days.
Also Read: ASUU Strike: Students protest in Edo, threaten to boycott 2023 Elections
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, spoke about the ASUU meeting in Abuja, at the opening of another meeting between the government and the striking National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT.
The Minister noted that the multiple industrial disputes in the education sector could have been averted if the unions in the sector took advantage of his open door policy like the health unions, which culminated in the peace currently enjoyed in the health sector.
Ngige, who also decried the rivalry between the education unions, made it clear that everybody is important in the university system.
He assured that the government was tackling all the disputes in education sector holistically, knowing fully well that none of the unions could function effectively without the other
Ngige adds that the meeting on Thursday with striking members of the senior staff union of universities, SSANU and the Non Academic Staff Union, NASU, was far reaching.
He maintained that what is causing the disagreement in the industry was mainly economic, bordering on money and welfare, including old arrears and 2009 renegotiation of Conditions of Service.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Andrew David Adejo, while calling for understanding from ASUU and other unions, said in 2000 when this agreement was signed, N400,000 was equivalent to $3000, but today, that N400,000 is less than $400.
Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe
