President of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Emmanuel Osodeke has countered minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige over his claim of a scheduled meeting on Thursday June 23, to resolve the ongoing strike by university lecturers.
Addressing reporters on Wednesday June 22, Ngige had said the federal government will soon resolve issues on the strike by ASUU. He also said concerns over payment platforms will be addressed with the union and other stakeholders in the next meeting fixed for Thursday.
Reacting to the claim in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday June 24, Osodeke said the union did not receive any letter of invitation from the minister.
He also called for Ngige’s removal from the negotiation process for allegedly worsening the situation.
Osodeke said;“We were not invited to any meeting. None of our members were invited. We have a secretariat but we never got any invitation from them.
“The problem we have with this government, especially with the minister of labour, is that if you can tell the world that you have fixed a meeting which you didn’t, how do you expect us to believe other things you have said? He should confirm to the world that he sent an invitation to ASUU for a meeting on Thursday. The minister of labour should leave us to deal with the minister of education. He was the one that made this matter worse to this extent. He was the one that decided to use hunger as a weapon, when he said no work no pay.”