Federal University

The meeting to restore industrial Harmony between the Federal Government and the Academic Staffs Union of Universities has officially ended with no agreement reached.

The meeting, which began at around 1:00pm in the Minister’s Conference Room, has concluded.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities emphasized during the conference that it will continue its strike until the Federal Government met all previous demands.

However, the Federal Government hopes the current strike will be called off shortly, stating that it was caught aback by the second walkout initiated by university instructors on February 14, 2022.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, stated during Tuesday’s resumed conciliation meeting with the union that government was surprised ASUU rejected the understanding and assurances it provided through the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, and the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Supo Ayokunle.

According to the Minister, who was in Botswana for the African Regional Labour Administrative Centre’s (ARLAC) conference at the time ASUU initiated strike action, he believed the university instructors and their employer, the Ministry of Education, would address the areas of contention within days.

“I had hoped that ASUU and the Ministry of Education would settle the concerns, which are presumably not significant enough to require industrial action. To my amazement, I returned and saw that the strike had continued. Whatever the case may be, my Ministry’s responsibility is to apprehend industrial conflicts wherever they occur, and we have apprehended this one.

” As a result of today’s dialogue, ASUU will understand that the government wishes no harm. This is because, even if there are still gaps in the agreement’s execution, they are not sufficient to justify industrial action. To that extent, we must make every effort to address this.

However, I must inform you that the administration was caught aback by the fact that NIREC had previously met with you (ASUU) and reported to the President. We truly hope that after meeting with you (ASUU) and providing information of their meeting with you, we would refrain from taking this road of industrial action in the future. Thus, the government is taken aback—the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance, and everyone else is taken aback.”

Ngige, on the other hand, stated that his ministry had comprehended the strike and that the continuing mediation process would pave the way for an extended meeting that would include NIREC.

“It is my job to apprehend industrial issues, and this one has been apprehended so that we may discuss and, if necessary, extend to a tripartite plus meeting comprising members of NIREC who are senior religious and traditional rulers.” And that is as soon as we are through here and have reached an agreement on topics.”

The minister expressed confidence that the strike will be called off in the near future, allowing students to return to class.

“The strike should not be limited to one month. Indeed, in labor, there is no such thing as a one-month strike or a warning strike. The strike is the strike. We want this to stop as soon as possible while we iron out any remaining ambiguities in the agreement, as the ILO Principles At Work permit revision of Collective Bargaining Agreements. As a result, we return to the draft agreement. We must avoid another circumstance in which our children suffer the weight of a conflict between two elephants,” he continued.

Mallam Adamu Adamu, the Minister of Education, initially walked out of a meeting with students on Monday morning over what he reportedly described as the student leaders’ rude behavior, later met with the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) at the National Universities Commission’s headquarters (NUC).

He told demonstrators that the Academic Staff Union of Universities’ (ASUU) striking workers will soon return to the classrooms.

The minister stated in a succinct statement published late Monday night by the ministry’s director of press, Ben Goong, that the current negotiating process has been constructive “and is anticipated to result in the swift return of the striking teachers to lectures.”

The statement, which was shared with PREMIUM TIMES late Monday night, reads as follows: “Education Minister Adamu Adamu met with NANS officials in Abuja to calm tensions surrounding the ongoing ASUU strike. The procedure should result in the restoration of academic activity on our campuses.”

The director, however, did not provide specifics about the meeting with the student leaders.
Channels Television footage of the minister’s walk-out on the kids had already appeared on the internet, with many Nigerians criticizing Mr Adamu for his “bad behaviour.”

The minister also expressed discontent with the manner in which he was addressed by NANS President Sunday Asefon, who reportedly accused the minister of being uncaring about the situation of Nigerian students.

Mr Asefon stated in his Monday presentation to the minister, “The key issue ASUU has continued to press is the revitalization of our institutions, which is critical for all students to understand.” However, you cannot debate institutional revitalization without include Nigerian students on the negotiation committee.

“Nigerian students are interested in serving on this committee. We want to know the truth about the relationship between ASUU and the federal government… We are tired of our education sector’s perpetual strike.

“Honourable Minister, we observed you celebrating your son’s graduation from a university outside this nation on social media. Our parents do not have the financial means to take us abroad. However, let us take pleasure in what we have paid for. We want to ensure that education is adequately funded in this country.

“If our schools remain closed, this will not be the final demonstration. This is not a threat; we stated our intention to come out and here we are. Today, the Niger Road, Benue Road, and Adamawa Road are all closed. If caution is not used, this might become worse than EndSARS.”

Apparently enraged by the points expressed, the minister allegedly informed the protesting students that the only thing worth noting about the issues was their involvement in the negotiating process.

“You should have met your lecturers there instead of coming here. Perhaps the only point you make that is worth noting is that you stated that students should be active, which I believe is a very positive thing. And it is the only thing I will take away from what you have said here,” the minister allegedly stated as he exited his conference room where he spoke with them.”

The minister was joined at the meeting by the executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abdulrasheed Abubakar, and the registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Is-haq Oloyede, as well as other officials from the education ministry’s agencies.

However, later that night, the minister came to meet with the irate students, joined by the directors of several education ministry agencies, including Messrs Abubakar and Oloyede.

According to the NANS president, the decision to meet with the minister was made in order to address the ongoing situation and return students to school.

Mr Asefon told our correspondent on Tuesday morning: “All we stated was that we would not return to the ministry of education.” As a result, they agreed to see us in the offices of the NUC, where we restated our requests.

“The minister demonstrated papers demonstrating efforts to resolve all difficulties, and we emphasized that if the strike is not called off before the one-month deadline, the #EndSars demonstration will be child’s play.”

He stated that the minister asked for patience and that the mediation meeting will continue today in an attempt to end the strike.

“He stated that the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement was unsustainable but that a new viable agreement was being finalized for both sides’ signing,” he continued.

Source: PreimumTimes

The meeting between the minister of education and the students who were protesting did not go well, as the minister walked out on them after only a few minutes.

Earlier, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) staged a protest against the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike that has been ongoing for many weeks (ASUU)

They gathered on Monday morning at the Unity Fountain in Abuja, headed by the national president, Sunday Asefon, and displayed numerous banners while shouting songs of unity.

According to Channels TV, the meeting between the minister of education, Adamu Adamu, and a group of protesting Nigerian students ended in an impasse when the minister walked out on the students.

This occurrence occurred as a result of a protest by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) over the protracted strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

However, they were halted by security personnel at the NASS entrance.

Asefon stated that the police officers are expected to join the protesting kids since they have children in school who are now at home owing to the strike.

He stressed that education is a fundamental right for all Nigerian youths, and that the ASUU members must address their differences with the Federal Government in order for students to return to the classroom in the coming days.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has stated that it would not halt the continuing one-month warning strike that was called on February 14 unless the government complies with the terms of the agreement reached with the union on February 14.

On Channels TV today, February 28, ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke stated that the union will not back down due to the Federal government’s repeated failure to honor all of the commitments made to it by successive administrations over the years.

Osodeke added that the union has come to realize that everytime it puts off a strike, the government fails to follow through on its pledges, and that they are weary of the government’s empty promises and want the government to take action instead.

As part of the ongoing discussions, the union will meet with representatives from the federal government on Tuesday, March 1st.