Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige claims he has no authority over the ongoing deadlock between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
Ngige said some things are above his control because he is not the Minister of Education.
He spoke when government representatives from the re-negotiation committee for the 2009 Federal Government/University-based unions agreement, chaired by Prof. Nimi Briggs, paid him a visit in Abuja.
Ngige, who describes himself as a conciliator, says he can’t tell the Ministry of Education what to do.
“As a conciliator, I have to make use of the labour instruments at my disposal. The bosses in the Federal Ministry of Education, do not feel the strike.
“There are things that are above me. I am not the Minister of Education. I cannot go to the Education Minister and dictate to him how to run his place,” he said.
ASUU has been on strike for months now with no end in sight. The union is clamouring for an improvement in their working and welfare conditions.
Following the commencement of the strike some months ago, ASUU and the Federal Government have met severally.