Ngige slams ASUU Once More, Promising to Restart Negotiations

On Friday, the Federal Government said that it would start talks with the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) next week in order to keep Nigerian public universities open.

Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, said this at a meeting between strikers, the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), and the government.

#NEW: Education Minister Asks @ASUU_NGN For Forgiveness

Nigeria Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu has apologized to striking lecturers for failing to respond to their demands on time.

— Official_ASUU (@ASUU_NGN) May 6, 2022

Ngige claimed that several labor issues in the education sector could have been avoided if the sector’s unions, like the health unions, had taken advantage of his open-door policy, emphasizing that they don’t have to cry over spilled milk.

According to him, the open door resulted in the current state of healthcare harmony.

On the other hand, he said that everyone in the university system is important and that the government is taking care of all education-related problems at the same time.

The minister stated that you do not need an appointment to see him as long as you are coming as a union, noting that doctors began to take advantage of this benefit, and JOHESU followed suit. That is why the healthcare industry is silent. However, ASUU did not take advantage of Ngige’s open-door approach.

“We don’t have to cry over spilled milk.” Let us look at your issues to see the ones we can handle immediately, the ones we can do in the medium term, and the ones we can do in the long term,” he said.

Ngige added,

“That is why I want to take all of you holistically and I ask for your cooperation.” When I finish with you today, I will continue with ASUU next week.

“I met NASU and SSANU yesterday [Thursday] and they were happy. I want you people to be happy as we leave here. “