The Academic Staff Union of Universities has disputed a claim by the Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige that the union agreed to end its nine-month strike before December 9.
ASUU National President Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi said in a statement on Tuesday that the government’s claim was false.
The union’s head said, “ASUU leadership did not reach any understanding with government to suspend the strike on December 9, 2020, and there is nothing in the government offer of November 27, 2020 to suggest that conclusion as allegedly claimed by the Minister of Labour and Employment.
“At our last meeting in the office of the Minister of Labour and Employment on November 27, 2020, the ASUU leadership promised to faithfully present the latest government offer to its members through the established tradition.
“The latest offer by government makes proposals on nearly all items of demand by the union with timelines. Among others, the document which was signed by the Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, contains proposals on inauguration of the reconstituted FGN-ASUU Renegotiation Committee (1st December, 2020); release of details about Visitation Panels (1st December, 2020); working on the actualisation of the release of the withheld salaries of ASUU members (Wednesday, December 9, 2020).
“Clause 9 on the document reads, ‘Based on these conclusions reached on items 1-8, ASUU’s leadership will consult its organs with a view to suspending the ongoing strike.’”
He explained that the principal officers and trustees who constituted the core of representatives of ASUU at negotiation meetings with government were not constitutionally empowered to suspend any strike action.
The union urged the government to fulfil its end of the deal.
