By Adedoyin Falolu
The Federal Government and striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) would resume talks next week with a view to ending the prolonged closure of public universities.
Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment made this disclosure in his office while making opening remarks at a meeting between the government side and the striking National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).
In a statement by the Acting Head Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Patience Onuobia, the Minister who also decried the rivalry between the education unions, making it clear that everybody is important in the university system.
He assured that the government was tackling all the disputes in the education sector holistically, knowing fully well that none of the unions could function effectively without the other union.
According to Ngige,
“My job is to prepare an agreement after conciliation on what you have agreed with your employers, the Federal Ministry of Education, put timelines and monitor them, to see whether the results will be there.
“As a conciliator, I manage you people in measured steps. 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 have done NASU and SSANU yesterday and they were happy. I want you people to be happy as we leave here.”
The prolonged strike may come to an end after the proposed meeting based on calls and interventions by well-meaning Nigerians to end the impasse.