FG, ASUU to Meet Tomorrow …APC National Auditor begs ASUU to call off strike

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige will today meet with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in a bid to resolve issues necessitating the ongoing industrial action by the university teachers.

The ministry had in a statement issued by the Director of Press, Samuel Olowokere, last week assured them that the federal government team would be engaging ASUU in talks tomorrow to see how the issues can be resolved to end the strike.

In the statement, Ngige said the Ministry of Labour and Employment has formally taken negotiations with ASUU, and has scheduled a meeting for tomorrow.

The industrial action by the university teachers has lasted nearly a month leading to the shutdown of most public-funded universities.

Efforts by the Ministry of Education to broker settlement with ASUU failed.

Meanwhile, the National Auditor of the All Progressives Congress (APC), George Moghalu, has urged ASUU to show understanding of the economic situation in the country and suspend the ongoing industrial action.

Moghalu made the appeal while unveiling the new school he built for his wife at the weekend in Abuja.

The APC chieftain, who is a member of the party National Working Committee (NWC), said ASUU's demand would be impossible to meet considering the dwindling economic fortune the country is currently facing.

"Government alone cannot fund education; in that case, my appeal to ASUU is to be considerate and give government a chance.

“This government inherited the rot of the past 20 years, and the burden cannot be left for it alone. Nigeria must be seen as an ongoing project,” he said.

Asked how much APC has contributed to the promotion of education especially with regard to the resolution of the ongoing ASUU strike, he said: “What you should understand is that the federal government investment in education is quite high. It has never been as high as it is now.

“Yes, we understand ASUU is on strike, but what is important is that government has engaged the union.

"I can say that with certainty because of the confirmation by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Ngige, that discussion is still ongoing. I am sure the issue will be resolved.”