Union ends strike, commits to virtual teaching, doing extra work
By Onyebuchi Ezigbo
Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, yesterday gave insight into the deal between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that led the union to suspend its nine-month industrial action.
Ngige told THISDAY that part of the agreement between the two parties during the final round of negotiations on Tuesday that preceded the suspension of the strike yesterday, was that the lecturers will conduct virtual teaching and restart academic activities before the January 18 stipulated by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19. Besides, ASUU accepted to do extra time and to recover lost ground.
Nigeria: ASUU Suspends 9-Month-Old Strike allafrica.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from allafrica.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
By Onyebuchi Ezigbo
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its industrial action that has disrupted academic activities for nine months.
Addressing a press conference Wednesday morning at the University of Abuja, ASUU president, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, said the decision to go back to the classroom was made based on agreement reached with the Federal Government at a meeting held on Tuesday, which addressed most of the demands of the union.
He said that an implementation committee had been set up to monitor the implementation of the agreements.
“On the basis of the foregoing, the NEC resolved that the current strike by the union should be suspended conditionally with effect from 12.01 a.m Thursday, December 24, 2020. However, should government fail to fullfil its own part of the agreement, ASUU will resume its suspended strike as deemed necessary,” he said.
Dec 22, 2020
From left, Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu; Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige and ASUU president, Biodun Ogunyemi
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THE Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige has dismissed as baseless and dishonest, the statement by the University of Jos Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), led by Dr. Maigoro, that he (Ngige) is responsible for the prolonged nationwide strike by the Union.
Rather, the minister blamed ASUU for the prolonged strike, as the union had totally refused to go back to work and reciprocate government offers.
He said: “It is rather ASUU which has bluntly refused to reciprocate the Federal Government offers by refusing to either teach, conduct research or engage in other academic values for which they are paid, that should be held responsible.
Nigeria: We Have Met All ASUU Demands, Nigerian Govt Says allafrica.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from allafrica.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.