The conciliatory meeting which was conveyed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige to hold discussions on the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), ended early Wednesday morning in deadlock, with the Federal Government declaring the industrial action as illegal.
While the government has continued to maintain that the demands raised by the union were already being met, ASUU thinks otherwise.
Addressing stakeholders at the meeting, Ngige described the ongoing strike as a clear breach of the law, adding that the union did not go through the normal process before embarking on the industrial action.
He also faulted ASUU’s action, saying it did not give the Federal Government the minimum 14 days strike notice prescribed by the law, prior to the strike.
Read Also: FG Moves To Meet ASUU’s Demands, Constitutes White Paper Panel
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 explained that the Trade Disputes Act permits him to apprehend 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.
Africa Daily News, New York recalls that ASUU is adamant about the continuation of the strike until government fully addresses demands bothering on revitalization funds, implementation of the Integrated Personnel Payrolls System (IPPIS) among others.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
