Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, is meeting with Pro-Chancellors, Chairmen of Councils, and Vice Chancellors of Universities, among others.
The meeting which began in Abuja in the early hours of Tuesday is part of the efforts of the Nigerian Government to resolve the ongoing strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
Adamu who gave a brief address to declare the meeting open said one major issue over which the government and ASUU, as well as other unions, could not reach an amicable agreement was the issue of the law on “no work, no pay”.
The Minister also said that the government made it clear that it would not break the law.
He further raised concerns that despite all efforts to get the university lecturers to call off the strike, the union refused to renege on its position and went on to declare an indefinite strike action in August.
He stated that the decision by the ASUU leadership that the union would no longer negotiate with the government, as reported, must be resisted.
According to the Minister, the government and ASUU have no option but to continue to talk until universities reopen their doors to Nigerian students whom according to Adamu were principal victims of the seven month old strike
Present at the meeting are Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede; Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC, Professor Abubakar Rasheed; Emeritus Professors Peter Okebukola and Nimi Briggs, among others.
Confidence Okwuchi
