Minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige has stated that he is tired of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) going on a strike every time there is a disagreement with the Federal Government.
Talking after a gathering with members of the federal government’s workforce on the 2009 Federal Government/University-based Unions’ Agreement Renegotiation Committee, led by its Chairman, Prof. Nimi Briggs, Ngige said that he is not the Minister of Education and can’t go to the Education Minister and dictate to him the right way to run his place.
He reiterated that the Federal Government stays dedicated to the renegotiation of the circumstances of service for all employees in public universities throughout the nation, including that the Nigerian university system produced him and he stays pleased with it.
The assertion launched by his Head of Press and Public Relations, Patience Onuobia, learn;
“I began pushing to see that issues have been carried out. What the Munzali Committee got here up with is a proposal. Each Munzali and ASUU didn’t sign. At our last meeting in February, earlier than ASUU proceeded on strike, we stated everybody ought to return to his principal.
“I requested the Education Minister several occasions what they’d carried out with the document. We later acquired data on areas of disagreement. There may be nothing flawed with that. It’s certain to occur. I advised ASUU to place up a committee; they stated the Munzali Committee had expired.
“As a conciliator, I’ve to utilize the labour devices at my disposal. The bosses within the Federal Ministry of Schooling don’t really feel the strike. There are issues which might be above me.
“I’m not the Minister of Education. I can not go to the Education Minister and dictate to him the right way to run his place. However I advised ASUU that they need to be bombarding the Federal Ministry of Education for this to be moved ahead.
“There are numerous methods to take action. When you go to the Labour Act, there’s something referred to as picketing. You’ll be able to picket. A strike is an final factor. Picketing means you could keep in the corridor, clapping or singing. Staff are permitted to take action. However I’m drained that each time there’s a disagreement, it’s a strike.
“And the bosses within the Federal Ministry of Education don’t really feel the strike. It’s the children and a few of us, as dad and mom which have our youngsters in public schools.
“After we went to universities right here, I knew the course content and as a medical physician, the docs we skilled listed here are higher than those skilled overseas. That is without doubt one of the counsels I gave to my kids. You are able to do your first diploma. One acquired admission in Ghana, I stated no. Others acquired in Canada and the UK, however I refused.
“If anyone is within the welfare of staff in Nigerian universities, I’m primary. I advised my colleagues that what university professors showed us right here as their salaries is unacceptable.”
