INFORMATION, CULTURE AND TOURISM MINISTER LAI MOHAMMED HAS SAID THE ISSUES AROUND THE ONGOING STRIKE BY MEMBERS OF THE ACADEMIC STAFF UNION OF UNIVERSITIES (ASUU) AND OTHER UNIVERSITY-BASED UNIONS ARE MORE COMPLEX THAN NIGERIANS THINK, THOUGH HE SAYS THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING ITS BEST TO END THE FOUR-MONTH-OLD JOB BOYCOTT BY VARSITY TEACHERS AND THE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE OTHER UNIONS WITH THEIR EMPLOYERS.
MOHAMMED SAYS THE GOVERNMENT IS WORRIED OVER THE LONG CLOSURE OF PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES AND THEREFORE STEPPING UP EFFORTS TO RESOLVE ALL THE CONTENTIOUS ISSUES.
THE MINISTER TOLD STATE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS AFTER THE VIRTUAL FEDERAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (FEC) MEETING OF INFORMATION AND CULTURE THAT THE ISSUES AROUND THE “ASUU STRIKE ARE NOT AS SIMPLE AS THEY SEEM.”
APART FROM ASUU, THREE OTHER BODIES – SENIOR STAFF ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES (SSANU), NON-ACADEMIC UNION OF UNIVERSITIES AND ASSOCIATED INSTITUTIONS (NASU) AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGISTS (NAAT) – ARE UP IN ARMS AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OVER SUNDRY WELFARE MATTERS.
THEY ACCUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF BEING INSENSITIVE TO THEIR DEMANDS.