I have been a kin follower of the goings - on in the educational sector not just as a key player but also as a concerned citizen. I have noticed cursory that, before the ASUU strike of 14th Feb, 2022, the Union had put the fg on notice about an impending strike if their demands are not made. Their demands bother on both substantive and residual issues of labour relations. In view of fg lukewarm posture towards them, ASUU came up with the idea of roll- over strike. The first two months saw the fg pleading with well meaning Nigerians to mediate on the impasse. The outcome of the mediation gave rise to payment of minimum wage arrears to the university lecturers outside of the core demands of the Union. Because the core issues were not addressed various committees were also set up, including the Chief of staff to the president wading into the matter. But let me zero in on the Prof. Nimi Briggs Committee set up by the Fg who submitted its report and was rejected by the fg that set it up. To my mind, if the committee did not do its work well, identify areas of grievances/ disagreement and then send them back to the negotiate table to do their work well. That wasn't done, instead the Batton of negotiation changed from the labour ministry to the ministry of education for reasons known to the fg. The minister of education equally could not resolve the matter because he made the same mistake others made. The mistake they all made bothers on collective bargaining. In collective bargaining sincerity and mutual respect holds key to resolution of industrial crises. ASUU is holding its stand on the strike due to the failure of the fg to negotiate with them and then signed the terms of the agreement. This has not been done. Given the fact, that NUC, is about to hold a meeting of VCs and Council Members of Federal universities, one likely out come of the meeting would be the fg to mandate the VCs to announce the reopening of schools. Follow up to that will be that
a register would be opened to those wishing to work to sign; and what about if all the lecturers sign but refused to go to lectures nor administer examinations. To every action is equal reaction and opposite. To resolve this crisis, the parties involved should be guided by the principles of collective bargaining in this sense, the fg should as a matter of urgency call ASUU back to the negotiation table, agree with them on areas they can address immediately and have a duly signed agreement, and also make commitment otherwise, they will be moving in circles. ASUU on the other hand, must make concession on
some of their demands especially those touching on funding, given the state of Nigerian economy.

Adamu Adamu is about to complicate issues if the agenda of the Tuesday's meeting is to order reopening of universities. I hope he gets advised against such move!

Applying force on ASUU didn't work during the military regimes let alone in a democratic dispensation.

It'll be wise if ASUU NEC is invited for the meeting of Tuesday with a view to sorting out grey areas in the negotiation. Top on agenda of that meeting should be how to immediately begin payment of the lecturer's salary arrears.

ASUU is also complicit in this 'loggerheads'. According to feedback from Dr Ngige, it was noted that ASUU asked the FG representatives to recuse themselves during the renegotiation meetings with the prof Nimi Briggs committee, thereby denying the FG the opportunity to participate fully in the collective bargaining that ASUU had with the Briggs committee.