ASUU STRIKE; ITS UNCONSTITUTIONAL- FG
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 READ MORE
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