The Buhari regime has said that the decision of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to embark on a 4-week warning strike came as a surprise.

Education minister Adamu Adamu said this at press briefing at the end of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC). He said the industrial action was abrupt amidst of negotiations.

“There is a solution to this. The negotiations are the solution and that is why I have said that I am surprised that ASUU has gone on strike,” he said.

In December 2021, ASUU had warned that failure of the federal government to meet its demands would force it into another round of strike.

ASUU eventually declared a one month warning strike on Monday over unresolved demands, which they claimed the federal government has been reluctant to meet.

Mr Adamu, however, stated that he had been the one summoning meetings with ASUU in an effort to resolve contentious issues.

“ASUU, unfortunately, have 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.”

On the draft agreement with ASUU, he 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 going on strike.”

Mr Adamu dismissed the insinuation that he deliberately refused to attend meetings with ASUU.

“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.”

Asked if the government can reach an agreement with ASUU before the end of the 30-day strike, the minister said it was difficult to ascertain that as there were others involved.

(NAN)