ASUU strike: FG pleads with lecturers, promises to pay new minimum wage

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige has pleaded with striking university teachers to show mercy on students by calling off their strike.

The teachers, under the auspices of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), began a nationwide strike since November, last year, over some disagreement between the union and the Federal Government.

Ngige, speaking with reporters in Awka, Anambra State on Sunday, also declared that Federal Government would pay a minimum wage, adding that things were being worked out by the Committee saddled with that responsibility.

He said: “FG will comfortably pay minimum wage, we want to pay it, but there must be balancing because figures were bandied and we are asking Labour to exercise patience.

“I appeal to ASUU and Labour to have mercy on students and be patient. As far as I’m concerned, we have treated Labour well. And they should also know I’m a comrade and that is why I always intervened on matters that concern them.”

The FG and Labour representatives adjourned their meeting until Monday (today), after a five-hour deliberation last Friday.