The Real Reason Why ASUU And FG Are Yet To Reach Resolution – Minister

 Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo, has stated why the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government have been unable to reach an agreement on the ongoing strike. 

After many reconciliation discussions between the two parties struck snags, ASUU decided on Monday to extend its statewide strike, which began on February 14, 2022, for another 12 weeks. 

However, speaking at a news conference in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, to launch a year-long celebration of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) 40th anniversary, the minister said the ASSU strike had harmed the education sector. 

According to him, “Labour disputes are highly technical issues and need the relevant technical requirements and knowledge to interrogate.

“The issue here are two, dispute of rights and dispute of interests. Among the demands of ASUU is the issue of stagnant payment which I also fully support. In fact, it is embarrassing for a Prof to be receiving N350,000 as monthly salary although minimum wage should only be for the rock bottom workers. These are issue of right.

“The real conflict is between ASUU and the Ministry of Education. Issues of funding and other agitations are dispute of interest which need a different approach, not to go on strike Even if you go on strike over dispute of rights, how long can that last is another question.

“Strike is temporary stoppage of work but when you go on strike for 22 months and you shut down the system, that has become a strife.”

The minister, who was represented by MINILS Director General Comrade Isa Aremu, stated that the institute has planned out new courses on disagreement and dialogue, and that the situation could have been much worse if the institute's efforts had not been made.