There are indications that the conciliatory conference called by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige to deliberate on the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, ended in deadlock early Wednesday morning, an advancement that may have prompted a declaration of the strike as illegal by the Federal Government.

While the government insists that the demands raised by the union were already being fulfilled, ASUU thinks otherwise.

Resolving stakeholders at the meeting, Ngige explained the ongoing strike as a clear breach of the law, including that the union did not go through the normal process before embarking on the industrial action.

He likewise faulted ASUU’s action, stating it did not provide the Federal Government the minimum 14 days strike notification prescribed by the law, prior to the strike.

His words, “I saw their letter in my office on February 18, which is last Friday and as you understand, they began their action on Monday, February 14. So, it is a clear breach of labour laws. There are offenses.

“If you need to notify us of meaning strike action, you give us a minimum of 14 days’ notification. I pointed out to them that we are a nation guided by laws. No one is above the law. They need to obey it.”

Ngige also described that the Trade Disputes Act permits him to capture the strike and having actually done so, the commercial action should seize.

The conference in between the warring celebrations may advance Monday next week as Ngige pledged to approach the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) to likewise intervene.

“By Monday, we would have handled a few of the concerns they are discussing and go back to them for more conversation. We will meet again with them and the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) and we take it from there.” Ngige had specified.

DAILY POST recalls that ASUU is adamant about the continuation of the strike till government fully attends to demands troubling on revitalization funds, execution of the Integrated Personnel Payrolls System (IPPIS) to name a few.