Strike: ASUU reveals Ngige did not invite them to meeting on thursday

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) claims that Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, did not invite the union to a meeting.

Ngige stated after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday that he will meet with the union to continue discussions about ASUU’s prolonged strike.

However, ASUU president Emmanuel Osodeke stated that the union had not been aware of any meeting with the Federal Government.

“We were not invited to any meeting. None of our members was invited. We have a secretariat but we never got any invitation from them,” the ASUU leader said in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday.

“The problem we have with this government, especially with the minister of labour, is that if you can tell the world that you have fixed a meeting which you didn’t, how do you expect us to believe other things you have said?

“He should confirm to the world that he sent an invitation to ASUU for a meeting on Thursday.”

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Professor Osodeke requested that the labour ministry withdraws from union negotiations.

“The minister of labour should leave us to deal with the minister of education. He was the one that made this matter worse to this extent,” he said.

“He was the one that decided to use hunger as a weapon when he said no work no pay.”

ASUU, which had been on strike since February 14, criticized the government’s failure to follow agreements struck with the union.

Ngige had told Nigerians that the protracted strike would be resolved shortly, stating that the Federal Government is determined to restore public universities.