The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, Wednesday cleared the Federal Government of any fault in failing to reach a truce after several negotiations between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the government.
ASUU had on Monday embarked on a 30-day working strike.
Addressing State House reporters after the Federal Executive Council meeting, Adamu said: “ASUU, unfortunately, they’ve gone on strike and I am looking for them because all the issues are being addressed.
“The last thing that happened was that our committee looked at their demands but there are renegotiations going on. They submitted a draft agreement which the ministry is looking at.”
Adamu, while speaking on ASUU’s draft agreement, said: “A committee is looking at it. Immediately it finishes, the government is meant to announce what it had accepted. Then suddenly, I heard them go on strike.
“We want a peaceful resolution. The federal government is ready to meet them on all issues they have raised and if there are so many meetings and the gap is not closing, then, I think it’s not the fault of the government.
“There is a solution to this. The negotiations are the solution and that is why I’ve said that I’m surprised that ASUU has gone on strike.”
Asked if the government could reach an agreement with ASUU before the end of the 30-day strike, he said: “I can’t give you time…but certainly, we’re going to reach an agreement very soon.”
On the disparity in cut-off marks for common entrance examinations in the country, Asamu said the low cut-off marks in the North were meant to comply with the requirements of the Federal Character Commission.
