Labour Minister, Ngige, declares ASUU strike illegal

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, on Wednesday, declared that the two weeks warning strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is illegal, noting that the announcement of the commencement of the warning strike is a shock.

Ngige after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday at the State House, Abuja, said that the last discussion the Federal Government had with ASUU, led to a decision that a nomination is done to serve the IPPIS committee.

Ngige declared: “I was shocked that on Monday, just like every other person, I read and saw some people coming out of the university system that their lecturers have gone on strike.

“It is not cheery news, they didn’t give us the mandatory notice before going on strike; so for a start, this strike is illegal.

“They said it’s a warning strike, a strike is a strike; it’s the withdrawing of services from which you are being paid.”

Ngige lamented the effects of strike  on the University system are not encouraging, saying that questions will arise then over payment of salaries during the strike period.

The minister stated that the staff that will manage the IPPISS in the universities are staff of the universities, not people in Abuja.

“So, we asked ASUU to nominate people to serve in the IPPISS committee in every institution, so that is where we are after the visit to President Buhari.

“Now the question will arise, if you don’t go to work, if you withdraw your services, do you want to be paid? is it not corruption,” he remarked.

ASUU began warning strike on Monday over imposition of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), poor funding, proliferation of State universities, among others.

Several universities across the country have joined the strike.