From Gyang Bere, Jos
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Jos said the Minister for Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige is responsible for the prolong nationwide ASUU strike due to his double standard on resolving the issues.
The University of Jos ASUU Branch Chairperson, Dr. Lazarus Maigoro, in a press statement on Friday in Jos, said ASUU has never signed any agreement to suspend the strike but agreed on timelines for Government to implement certain aspects of the issues in contention.
“Just when Nigerians became hopeful that the 9 months old Academic Staff Union of Universities’ (ASUU’s) strike will be suspended, the Minister for Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige threw a spanner in the works by his reckless, fallacious and deceitful to ASUU and his principal, Mr President over assertions of an alleged earlier agreement reached with our union on suspending the strike.
“It is very sad and painful to hear an appointee of Government who bear the prefix “Honourable” tell lies about issues of National importance like university Education.”
He said despite the intervention of the National Assembly on the ASUU strike, the Federal Government has refused to address the plights of ASUU which primarily to improve on the learning condition in Nigeria Universities.
“Are Nigerians surprised that a man who went to a shrine to swear to an oath, would later out rightly deny is able to sincerely lead fruitful negotiations?
“When the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu blamed previous Governments for entering agreements it knew it was not going to fulfil, has he forgotten that the current Government in which he serves has signed at least one MoU and one MoA both of which they have not fulfilled?
“Should he also be informed that, the previous Government has released more money towards meeting the demands of ASUU than the current Government?”
“Are Nigerian Students, parents and other stakeholders sincerely expecting ASUU to suspend the current strike based on the FGN’s promissory notes again? Or would they rise to the occasion and demand that the FGN does the needful in order for the strike to be suspended?
“The cards are in the hands of the FGN. “Where there is a will there is a way” and someone who has been burnt already is not afraid of fire. I believe that the issues in question would be speedily resolved if the lier called Ngige is called to order Mr President.”
