Ngige clears air on Federal Govt taking ASUU to court

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, Monday, said cleared the air on a report of the Federal Government taking the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to court over the prolonged strike of the union.

Ngige said the Federal Government did not take ASUU to court over the prolonged strike, as some people claimed.

The Minister made this known in a statement issued by Olajide Oshundun, Head of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Ngige said he referred the matter to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) due to the inability of both parties to resolve the issue after seven months of protracted discussions and negotiations with the union.

He said: “We have to counsel our brothers on negotiation. No negotiation is forced. You cannot say it is either you give me 200 per cent or I will continue my strike. There are laws guiding strikes. There are ILO principles on the right to strike. Nobody can take it away.

“But, there are things that follow it when you embark on strike as a worker and they are enshrined in the laws of our land. It is written in Trade Dispute Act. The ILO principles of strike talks about the right of a worker to withdraw services. There is also the right to picket. These are things that are done.

“Nigeria is respected in ILO. Some people said Federal Government took ASUU to court. No. I referred the matter after seven months of protracted discussions and negotiations that failed.”