President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, to call an end to the long-running strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other university-based unions.
Following briefings from the pertinent government Ministries, Agencies, and Departments involved in resolving the disagreement with university unions, President Buhari issued the directive on Tuesday.
Recall that other unions joined the Academic Staff Union of Universities, or ASUU, in going on a one-month warning strike on February 14 in response to the federal government’s apparent inability to satisfy their demands.
Also on strike are the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Educational Institutions (NASU), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
Tuesday’s meeting was scheduled by President Buhari to hear an update from the government team regarding the strike, which has been dragging on for much too long.
The President instructed the Minister of Education to resolve the matter within two weeks and report back to him after hearing from the several MDAs directly involved.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, was asked by President Buhari to attend meetings to discuss the issue, according to meeting sources.
The team communicating with the strike unions should include Mr. Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), according to the sources.
One of the people claimed that the President commended Ngige for his efforts to end the situation thus far.
Mallam Adamu, Minister of Education, Dr. Zainab Ahmed, Senator Ngige, Minister of Labor and Employment, Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, Chairman of the National Salaries, Income, and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta, and Director-General Budget Office were present at the meeting.