The FG has said that the ongoing ASUU strike is not as simple as many believe it to be.
This was disclosed by the Minister of information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the virtual Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities embarked on a strike on the 14th of February. It has been four months since negotiations began to end the strike, however, all attempts seem futile. Students have also staged several protests pleading with the government to reach an agreement with ASUU.
Despite all protests and appeals, the strike continues. Other university-based unions including SSANU, Non-Academic Staff Union(NASU), have also refused to return to work over alleged government negligence to their demands.
The government recently approved the establishment of e-learning centres for primary schools. When asked about why the same government has been unable to resolve the problems of the unions in the public universities, Lai Mohammed responded that the issue was not as simple as many think.
He further explained that the government was very concerned about the issues and was doing everything to see them resolved as soon as possible.
“Then the other question has to do with ASUU strike. I think if I remember this e-learning, it has to do more with primary schools and not universities.
“I don’t think because we’re having challenges with the university lectures, we should stop primary school students in continuing with their education.
“I wish that the ASUU issue is as simple as many of us think it is. I don’t think it’s that simple. But I want to assure you that a lot is going on behind the scenes.
“I think probably the Minister of Education will be better positioned to give the details. But like any government, if we’re not concerned, we would not set up all the committees, which have been working on. If we are not concerned we will not be looking for means to even assuage the feelings of the union.
“We’re worried, we’re concerned and we’ll continue to work towards finding an early resolution of the problem.