Shelve your strike; Its unconstitutional, FG tells ASUU

The Federal Government on Tuesday in Abuja asked the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to rescind its decision to embark on a one week warning strike from Nov. 16. noting that it is unconstitutional owing to the prevailing circumstances.
It said, as its employer, the federal government is equally yet to receive any petition from the academic body on their claimed nationwide consultations with it.
Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment who gave the statement urged ASUU to shelve the strike to make room to address contending issues.

Ngige via a statement issued by Mr Samuel Olowokere, Deputy Director of Press in the Ministry, said shelving the strike would ensure wider consultation.
“The claims of nationwide consultations by ASUU cannot be true as the Ministry of Labour and Employment which is the chief conciliator of industrial relations disputes is yet to receive a direct petition from ASUU.
“This is against the Federal Government who is the jurisdictional employer, ‘’ he said.
He emphasised the need for a proper re-negotiation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement which ASUU reached with the previous administration through a clear channel of social dialogue.
He said channel of dialogue would consist of the immediate employer, the Ministry of Education, and the Labour Ministry.
Ngige explained that in view of the prevailing circumstances, the issuance of warning strike by union was unconstitutional.
“ The body is yet to exhaust the conflict resolution mechanisms clearly mapped out in the labour laws, ‘’he added.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday said it would embark on a week warning strike over failure by the Federal Government to implement the 2009 Agreement and 2013 MoU.
ASUU National President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi said Many aspects of the 2013 MoU and the 2009 Agreement with the Federal Government were either been unimplemented or despairingly handled.
“The agreements are: Payments of staff entitlements since December 2015, funding of universities for revitalisation, pension, TSA and university autonomy and renegotiation of 2009 Agreement.
“Failure by the Federal Government to implement this agreement has put ASUU leadership in severe difficulty, responding to inquiries from members of the union about the state of our agreement,’’ he said.