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ASUU Strike Declared Illegal After Wednesday’s Meeting With FG Ends In Deadlock

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Wednesday suspended its nationwide industrial action.

The federal government has declared the current strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as illegal, after the conciliation meeting ended in deadlock early Wednesday morning.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige while addressing stakeholders at the meeting, disclosed that the union did not go through the normal process before embarking on the industrial action.

He described the ongoing strike as a clear breach of the law, saying it did not give the Federal Government the minimum 14 days strike notice prescribed by the law, prior to the strike.

His words, “I saw their letter in my office on February 18, which is last Friday and as you know, they started their action on Monday, February 14. So, it is a clear breach of labour laws. There are violations.

“If you must notify us of intending strike action, you give us a minimum of 14 days’ notice. I pointed out to them that we are a country guided by laws. Nobody is above the law. They should obey it.”

Ngige also clarified that the Trade Disputes Act permits him to seize the strike and having done so, the industrial action should seize.

The meeting between the warring parties may continue on Monday next week as Ngige vowed to approach the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) to also intervene.

“By Monday, we would have dealt with some of the issues they are talking about and return to them for further discussion. We will meet again with them and the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) and we take it from there.” Ngige had stated.