The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, will reconvene next week to discuss the prolonged closure of public Universities.

Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, stated this in Abuja during a meeting with the National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, who are also on strike.

Ngige stated that if Unions in the education sector had taken advantage of his open-door policy, multiple industrial disputes in the sector could have been avoided.

He assured that the Government was addressing all disputes holistically, recognising that none of the unions could function effectively without the other.

Dr. Ngige maintained that the issues causing the disagreement in the industrial milieu were economic, bordering on money and welfare, and included old arrears and the 2009 renegotiation of Conditions of Service.

However, the Minister stated that the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement would take time because the Education Ministry had not formed a committee to handle it.

Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma, President of NAAT, stated that they were forced to go on strike as a last resort in order to draw government attention to their plight.