SAN FRANCISCO, March 12, (THEWILL) – The Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU), have disagreed over the legality of its ongoing 2-week warning strike.
Speaking at a meeting with the leadership of the House of Representatives on Thursday, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, said the ministry has not received any notice of strike from ASUU.
He noted that the Trade Dispute Act requires that ASUU give 15 days notice before embarking on any strike adding that the government is not officially aware of the demands of ASUU hence it is an illegal strike.
However, according to Mr. Keyamo, the government has invited ASUU for negotiations on Thursday and progress will be reported back to the Speaker after the meeting.
ALSO READ: Reps To Invite ASUU Over Ongoing Industrial Action
The Minister for State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, who was present at the meeting aligned with Mr. Keyamo’s position.
However, the National President of ASUU, Prof Abiodun Ogunyemi in his response says on February 7, 2019, a Memorandum of Action was signed between ASUU and FG.
He explained that on January 9, 2020, the union met with President Buhari and the ministries where he asked the ministers to look into the issues raised and there had been meetings with the Minister of Education and ASUU had written to the Minister of Labour informing him of the strike.
According to Prof Ogunyemi, the 2009 agreement is the originating document and, till date, the agreement has not been met.
The Speaker of the House of Reps, Femi Gbajabiamila after listening to all sides, frowned at the failure to keep agreements and chided the government for failing to keep its end of the agreement.
On the IPPIS issue, Gbajabiamila told ASUU no one is above the law, even if that law isn’t favourable to the union.
He directed the House Chairman on Tertiary Education to attend the proposed meeting between ASUU and the ministries of Labour and Education scheduled to hold at 2 pm Thursday.
