The Federal Government says it will resume its negotiations with the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) next week, with a view to ending the prolonged closure of Nigerian public universities.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, said this in his opening remark at a meeting between the government side and the striking National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).
Ngige noted that the 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 the health unions.
He said that the open door culminated in the peace currently enjoyed in the health sector.
The minister, however, decried the rivalry between the two education unions. He made it clear that everybody was important in the university system.
He gave assurance that the government was tackling all the disputes in education sector holistically, knowing fully well that none of the unions could function effectively without the other.
“If you are from any union, you don’t need to book appointment to see me. The doctors started using that advantage, 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 spilt 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.
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