The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, convened a crucial meeting on Wednesday in Abuja with the leadership of the striking university unions to address the ongoing warning strike.
The unions involved in the discussions comprised the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).
Following the meeting, Prof. Mamman informed newsmen that the Federal Government is committed to engaging in continuous dialogue with the unions to prevent any further escalation of the situation.
“It is our expectation that it will not go beyond what it is. We have a good understanding with the unions to ensure stability in our tertiary institutions.
“We will do everything possible to maintain confidence in the unions so that the issue of the strike can be resolved,” he said.
The General Secretary of NASU, Prince Peters Adeyemi, while commending the openness of the government in ending the strike, insisted that the strike will continue until a favourable response from the government is received.
“We have been duly briefed by the government team led by the Minister of Education on the efforts that the government is making in respect of our demands.
“We have said that since this is a warning strike, these efforts should continue and hopefully, before the end of the warning strike, something reasonable and tangible will come from the government.
“We appreciate their openness but this struggle will continue [until] as soon as we receive a positive response from the higher authorities.
“We assure the Nigerian public that the strike will be reviewed appropriately, but, for now, the strike continues while the government continues with efforts to get the desired results so that the universities will come back on stage,” he said.
Corroborating this, the President of NAAT, Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma, reiterated the decision of other unions, saying that the parties would further consult with their principals and thereafter would come back and brief the minister.
(NAN)
