Nigerian Federal Government response to threats

The federal government reacted to threats by the Academic Staff Union of Universities to embark on nationwide strike.
 
Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, on Wednesday. stated; Federal Government would look into the issues raised by ASUU. 
 
The minister said most of the union’s grievances were domiciled in the ministries of Education, Communications and Digital Economy. Ngige stated this in an interview with The PUNCH in Abuja.
 
ASUU had issued several threats of indefinite strike over what the union tagged the failure of the Federal Government to honour some of the agreements it signed with it in the past.
 
In 2020, ASUU went on a nine-month strike, which was called off in December of that year.
 
In 2021, the union issued fresh threats giving the Federal Government a three-week ultimatum to address its grievances. The union later shelved movement following the payment of N22.1bn earned allowances and release N30bn revitalisation fund to universities.
 
Some members of the Nigeria Inter-religious Council, led by the co-chairmen. Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Abubakar III, and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria. Dr Samson Ayokunle, visited the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

Coming over failure to implement the Memorandum of Understanding the government signed with ASUU. Since when signed in 2009 and other agreements.

Buhari speech at the meeting

At the meeting, Buhari said the government remained committed to fulfilling the promises made to ASUU.
 
ASUU still issues directives to its chapters encouraging members to continue mobilising for the impending strike.
 
Ngige, told Punch, “The truth is that ASUU’s grievances are with the NUC, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. The issues are the deployment of their UTAS andWhite Paper report on universities.

“You know; at the Ministry of Labour we are not their employer; the Education ministry is their employer. Our job acting as reconciliatory officers.

“The President mandated his Chief of Staff, Minister of Education and Ministry of Labour to step in. But my job is to step as the reconciliatory officer if both sides refuse to settle their grievances.

We will surely look into the matter.”