ASUU Strike: Chris Ngige Makes New Pledge In Favour Of Varsity Students

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has made a declaration in favour of Nigeria University students following the suspension of 10 months old ASUU strike.

Naija News reports on Wednesday, December 23 that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU conditionally suspended its nationwide industrial action.

This was made known in a press conference on Wednesday morning by the President of ASUU, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi.

Speaking a few hours after the development, Ngige said he won’t give ASUU any excuse to go on strike again.

Naija News understands that Ngige’s ministry has been in serious negotiation with the varsity lecturers and the Federal Ministry of Education over non-payment of salaries and other requests by the academic union.

Ngige, however, while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, insisted that he would ensure the government does its own bit.

The minister said the government would pay ASUU the agreed N40bn Earned Allowance before December 31, 2020. “We will not get to that (fresh strike), we will not get there because we have so structured the agreement in such a way that it is a win-win situation for everybody,” the minister said.

He added, “For example, the Revitalisation (Fund), we have given government up to 31st of January to pay that. We have also opened the window that by end of February, we will sit down and review the situation, eight weeks or nine weeks from now, so nobody will keep anybody in suspense.

“I will not give ASUU the opportunity to go on strike (again) because I have three biological children that suffered from this imbroglio that we found ourselves in. So, I am a committed parent, I am involved, even more than some ASUU members because some of them have their children in private schools.

“I will not give them the opportunity because I will make sure the government does its own bit. I have structured the agreement in such a way that it is doable.”

On the threat by the ASUU president that the union could return to strike without informing the government, Ngige said, “They also know that we have labour laws and if the worst comes to the worst, they will give time, they will give notice.”

In another news, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari vowed on behalf of the nation to play an expected role in moving Africa forward.

Naija News reports that Buhari made the declaration on Wednesday, December 23 at the presidential villa while receiving a former President of Mali, Alpha Konare.