The Federal Government and the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are set to resume discussions next week in a bid to end the prolonged closure of Nigerian public universities.
Labour and Employment Minister, Chris Ngige dropped the hint yesterday while making the opening remarks at a meeting between the government and the striking National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) in his office.
Ngige commented that multiple industrial disputes in the education sector could have been averted if the unions in the sector took advantage of his open-door policy like those in the health sector.
In a statement issued by the Acting Head Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Patience Onuobia, the minister decried the rivalry between the education unions and noted that everybody is important in the university system.
He said: “If you are from any union, you don’t need to book an appointment to see me. The doctors started using that advantage and JOHESU also did the same. That is why the Health Sector is quiet.
“But the education unions don’t take advantage of my open-door policy. We don’t have to cry over spilled milk. Let us look at your issues to see the ones we can handle immediately, the ones we can do in the medium term, and the ones we can do in the long term.”
