Education Minister, Adamu Apologises To Striking University Workers

The Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu has appealed for forgiveness from the striking university workers including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) for not responding on time to their demands.

He requested that he be forgiven in the spirit of the just ended Ramadan season. This was at a new round of meetings facilitated by Dr Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment.

The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, said that he never abandoned the issues bothering the striking university workers even though it may have appeared so. He further urged that a new round of negotiations be opened.

In his words “We want to let you know that whatever sins the Ministry had committed before should be forgiven. We have repented and we will not sin anymore. We want you to see us as partners in progress,” Adejo said.

“It in that spirit of forgiveness of the just ended Ramadan fast that we feel that we fixed the meeting to discuss and resolve the issues.

“It may seem as if your employer, the Ministry of Education has abandoned you, but this is not true, that is not the true picture.

“As was captured in the communiqué issued at your last meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the social apartheid the present strike is causing is leading to so many other problems that the earlier we sit down to solve it the better for the country.