The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige has disclosed that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will face consequences if they refuse the government’s overture to return to the negotiation table. This was contained in a statement signed by the media aide of the Minister, Emmanuel Nzomiwu, in Enugu.

He said that the Federal Government could activate relevant labour laws to deal with the situation as the law permits the Federal Government to approach the National Arbitration Panel (NAP) and even the National Industrial Court (NIC).

According to the minister,  the ASUU strike was all about the disagreement on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). “Any other reason given by ASUU is an alibi.

I invited ASUU for a zoom meeting in compliance with COVID-19 guidelines, but they insisted on meeting me face to face. “We have labour laws and hierarchy of arbitration. There is the NAP and NIC. If I am tired, I can refer it there. “So the better thing is for them to come and negotiate on firsthand basis where we are not bringing an external arbitrator,” he said.

According to him, ASUU as an employee lacks the right to dictate to the Federal Government on how to receive wages. “The important thing is for your salaries and wages to come to you. As a workman, you receive your pay as compensation for services rendered.

Concerning the ASUU's claim that the agreements in Memorandum of Action 2019 with FG were not implemented vigorously., Nigige has this to say, 'We agreed that they will be paid N25billion for their earned academic allowances and another N25billion for revitalisation of university system. “The Federal Government paid the first tranche of N50 billion and N25 billion. Thereafter, there was the issue of National Minimum Wage and its consequential adjustment,” he said. He said that the Federal Government spent N160 billion in the process.

Ngige said that the Federal Government could not pay ASUU the next tranche of N25 billion in October last year. “They said there is a breach. We said we are owing. That we can pay it. So, we restructured it and agreed that the government can pay them 20 billion and another 20 billion for earned academic allowances between April 2020 and May. “We all agreed,” Ngige said. "

He stated that the IPPIS has come to stay as it is more effective. He said that previously some of the people drawing salaries from the Federal Government coffers were ghost workers. He said that there had been a shortfall in tax returns by the various universities over time which accumulated to over N800 billion.