ASUU’s Demands Must Be In Tandem With Wages Comission Procedure – Ngige

• ASUU had on Monday February 14 declared a one-month warning strike after the Federal Government failed to address its demands

• The striking lecturers have threatened a total, indefinite and comprehensive strike action should the government fail to resolve the issues before the March 13 deadline

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, on Tuesday in Abuja said that the Federal Government was committed to enhancing the remuneration package of university lecturers.

Ngige spoke to State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on the status of FG’s current engagement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Read also: Strike: ASUU, FG Resume Talks

The minister said, “Yes, our university lecturers deserve good pay. A worker deserves his wages. So, if we compare with what obtains in other climes and they are not adequately remunerated, there is nothing that stops the government within the lean resources we have to do some compensation raise and make them happy.

“So, we are not opposed to that but there is a process like explained to them.”

Ngige noted that a timeline had been given for the draft proposal the union submitted at the Ministry of Education for their conditions of service and wages to be concluded.

He said when the relevant committee headed by chair of pro-chancellors submits its report, it will be considered together with the National Salaries and Wages Commission to ensure that the proposed allowances do not exceed government’s extant fixtures.

According to him, Buhari was satisfied with his brief and the “2020 December agreement with ASUU is on course in terms of implementation.”

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: ASUU: Labour Threatens Solidarity Strike With Lecturers

Click to watch our video of the week