…hopes schools may reopen in January 2021

Minister of Labour and Employment and former governor of Anambra State, Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige has said that the Federal Government has met 98% of the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, adding that universities in the country would likely reopen by January next year.

Senator Ngige spoke to reporters at his country home, Alor in Idemili North local government area of Anambra State on Monday during the flag-off of medical outreach in the town.

According to Ngige, final decisions on ending the 10- month old strike would be taken Tuesday during a meeting he would hold with ASUU leadership in Abuja.

His words, “We have met about 98 percent of the request of ASUU. The remaining two percent is what you can call promissory notes.

“So, I am very hopeful that by midnight Tuesday, there is work we are supposed to get on to do and ASUU members also have some work they are supposed to do on their own side with their people.

“We will meet in the afternoon and we will compare notes. 

“We will put everything on the table and compare notes. I believe that we may come to the end of the strike when we meet.

“Well, it is a journey of a thousand miles, which you will have to take one step first. All things being equal, we will agree now to agree because we were disagreeing before.

“We will disagree to agree and agree to disagree formerly. But I hope we will agree to agree. Once we do that, schools will open in January.”