Adamu Adamu
Following the one month strike embarked by ASUU, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, on Wednesday said he is willing to reach an agreement with the striking university lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU.
Adamu said he was surprised that the lecturers could decide to embark on industrial action when the Federal Government was addressing the issues they have raised in their meetings.
According to him, ASUU, unfortunately, have gone on strike and I am looking for them because all the issues are being addressed.
The minister stated this while briefing reporters at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
His words, “The last thing that happened was that our committee looked at their demands, but there are renegotiations going on. The Federal Government is ready to meet them on all issues they have raised and if there are so many meetings and the gap is not closing, then I think it’s not the fault of the government.
ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, had on Monday declared a one-month warning strike, saying that the union tried to avoid the industrial action but the Federal Government was unresponsive to its demands.
The lecturers also blamed their decision on the government’s inability to implement the Memorandum of Action it signed with them in December 2020.
Peaceful Resolution
While maintaining his resolve to reach an agreement with the union, Adamu believes there is always a solution to every problem.
The minister explained that a committee is looking at it. Immediately it finishes, the government is meant to announce what it has accepted.
The minister also reacted to several accusations by ASUU, including claims that he has consistently shunned the negotiation meetings but sends representatives.
He added that the allegation that government does not want a peaceful resolution to the crisis was not true. Rather, Adamu said he has been the one summoning every meeting held and has equally been in attendance, except within the period he was away for medical treatment in Germany.
