IBUKUNOLUWA KING-OKUNEYE
The Federal Government said there’s is no deal yet as the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) entered sixth month today, July 14.
ASUU has been on strike since February 14, with tens of thousands of undergraduates out of universities.
On Wednesday, the government divulged that there was no Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) on the ASUU matter awaiting President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige declared this in a statement by Olajide Oshundun, ministry’s Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations.
The Minister accused the President of ASUU, Prof. Victor Osodeke, and branch leaders, of misleading Nigerians.
Ngige stressed that when a CBA is produced between unions and the Federal Government, it is not the president that signs.
“There is no such CBA that has been reached between the Federal Government, ASUU and other university unions on the renegotiation of their salaries and allowances (wages).
“What is in existence is a proposal. Even when such CBA is made, it is not the president that signs it. From available records, no Nigerian President or sovereign signs such”, he explained.
Ngige said ASUU’s demands for better conditions of service – wages, salaries, allowances and other public service matters – would be guided by relevant government ministries and agencies like the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Budget office of the Federation.
Others include the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission, Office of Head of Service of the Federation, through the Prof. Nimi Briggs Committee.