NGIGE HAS WORSENED SITUATION, SHOULD REMOVE HIMSELF FROM NEGOTIATION

NGIGE HAS WORSENED SITUATION, SHOULD REMOVE HIMSELF FROM NEGOTIATION

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said Dr. Chris Ngige, minister of labour and productivity should remove himself from its ongoing negotiations with the federal government because he has worsened situation.

This is as the striking academic union said the federal government did not invite to any meeting on Thursday, contrary to what the labour minister said.

On Wednesday, Ngige said the federal government will soon resolve issues on the strike by ASUU.

He had also said concerns over payment platforms will be addressed with the union and other stakeholders in the next meeting fixed for Thursday.

However, speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, on Friday, Emmanuel Osodeke, ASUU president, said the union did not receive any letter of invitation from the minister.

“We were not invited to any meeting. None of our members were invited. We have a secretariat but we never got any invitation from them,” he said.

“The problem we have with this government, especially with the minister of labour, is that if you can tell the world that you have fixed a meeting which you didn’t, how do you expect us to believe other things you have said?

“He should confirm to the world that he sent an invitation to ASUU for a meeting on Thursday.

“The minister of labour should leave us to deal with the minister of education. He was the one that made this matter worse to this extent. He was the one that decided to use hunger as a weapon, when he said no work no pay.”

ASUU, on February 14, declared a one-month warning strike to protest the non-implementation of its demands by the federal government.

But on March 14, the union extended the action by eight weeks, citing the government’s failure to fully address its demands.

On May 6, Ngige promised that the federal government would resume negotiations with ASUU with the aim of ending the strike.

However, three days after his promise, the union extended the strike by another 12 weeks.

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Adeniji Emmanuel Olumide (BIGSHAQ)

Adeniji Emmanuel Olumide (BIGSHAQ) is a media aide to the CEO, media director and campus reporter . He loves to share campus news, updates across various campuses.

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