The Federal Government has expressed optimism that the lingering strike by the various university unions will end soon.
In a statement released on Friday, May 13, the Head, Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Olajide Oshundun, said the various meetings between the FG and the unions will most likely yield positive results by next week.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, the Non-Academic Staff Union, and the Association of Academic Technologists are currently on strike, demanding the government’s response to their various needs.
Oshundun in the statement released, quoted the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, as saying
“We had a cordial and fruitful discussion. We looked at the issues dispassionately and reached some agreements, to the satisfaction of everybody in attendance.We discussed. Everybody was happy. We reached some agreements, and we hope that by next week those agreements will start maturing. The four unions will also go and brief their members so that they can call off the strike.”
The statement added that the minister said the issues in the 2009 agreement, such as the renegotiation of the condition of service and the wage review could be concluded next week.
