Minister Of Labour, Chris Ngige, has hinted that the strike threatened by the Academic Staff Union of Universities will not take place.
Recall that on Monday, ASUU issued a three-week ultimatum to the federal government to implement the earlier agreement reached with the union.
ASUU’s national president, Emmanuel Osodeke said the industrial action became necessary due to the failure of the federal government to implement the memorandum of action it signed with the union upon which the last strike action was suspended.
Reacting to ASUU’s ultimatum on Tuesday in an interview on Channels Television, Ngige said the funds are available for universities.
He said, “The strike will not happen. For one, I know that the funds to pay are there and the ministry of education has assured me that by tomorrow, they will emanate letters to make sure that the disbursement reaches the accounts of the various universities.
“We are not paying the unions directly so it will get to the universities’ account.”
Speaking during the programme, the minister said the country’s standard of education is falling and that the government alone cannot fund the sector.
“The state of education here is not anything for anyone to cheer about. The standard has fallen. I agree, but education can’t be funded by the government alone,” he said.