ASUU Can’t Claim Varsity Autonomy-Minister

The minister of labour productivity and employment Dr. Chris Ngige, on Wednesday said   the  Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) cannot claim to be autonomous when lecturers are paid by the government.

He said autonomy can only work when a university generates its resources to pay workers and meet its obligation.

Ngige spoke while defending his ministry’s budget before the Senate Committee on Labour and Employment.

Striking lecturers have refused to call off their seven-month strike because of disagreement with the government over the Integrated Personnel Payroll System (IPPIS).

ASUU claimed that enrolling on the platform would erode the autonomy of the university system.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) yesterday issued a 14-day ultimatum to parties to resolve the lingering strike or face nationwide protests.

Ngige, according to a statement by his media aide, Emmanuel Nzomiwu, told the lawmakers that the Federal Government was addressing the strike holistically to ensure that other unions in the university system were carried along.

Detail later…