Strike: FG, ASUU parley continues today

THE negotiation between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will commence today.

The meeting is at the request of ASUU, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, who will lead the Federal Government team along with the minister of education in the negotiation said.

Ngige, who spoke on the determination of the Federal Government to end the strike, said during the Salah holiday that the meeting will take place immediately after Salah break.

“In view of his determination to end every disruption in the academic calendar of universities, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige wishes to inform all stakeholders and the general public that conciliation with the university teachers will resume immediately after the Sallah break as requested by ASUU,” a one paragraph statement signed by the Deputy Director, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Samuel Olowookere said.

Meanwhile, the minister has also declared that he would  lead the negotiation with ASUU along with his counterpart  in the Ministry of Education, even as he dispelled speculations of uncertainty over the negotiation.

The minister pointed out that as the chief conciliator of industrial disputes in the country, he and the Minister of Education whose ministry is the employer of  the  university teachers are still leading the talks.

He said the consultation at the office of the Vice President by the two ministers after last Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting was in consolidation of the negotiations so far held with ASUU.