The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will restart negotiations next week, according to Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige.
During a meeting between the government and the National Association of Academic Technologists, Ngige revealed this.
Industrial action in the education sector, according to the Minister, may be avoided if unions, like the health unions, take advantage of his open-door policy.
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He stated that the federal government is addressing all educational problems comprehensively.
Ngige went on to say that without the other union, none of the unions could operate successfully.
The minister said, “If you are from any union, you don’t need to book an appointment to see me. The doctors started using that advantage, and JOHESU also did the same. That is why the health sector is quiet. But the education unions don’t take advantage of my open-door policy.
“We don’t have to cry over spilt 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. Certain ones are over and above me that are not in my hands to do.
“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.
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“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.”
Ngige, however, stated that the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement would not be immediate because the education ministry had put in place a committee to handle it.
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