Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige stormed out of a meeting between stakeholders of the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), been spearheaded by the speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajibiamila.
The meeting which had representatives from both FG and ASUU dissolved into a heated argument, climaxing in the exit of Chris Ngige.
Ngige before leaving the meeting, accused the ASUU president, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke of encouraging Nigerians to vote out the All-Progressives Congress (APC) In the upcoming elections.
The speaker of the House of Representatives, Gbajabiamila called on the aggrieved parties including Chris Ngige and Emmanuel Osodeke to sheathe their swords and shift ground in the interest of the country and that of the students who have been away from their studies for seven months.
When Osodeke talked, he lamented that the salaries of the lecturers are paid from the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, which is not the order of the day in other countries.
Osodeke said, “Is there any country in the world where salaries of lectures are paid from the office of Accountant-General of the Federation? Where is the idea of the law? Let’s be patriotic to Nigeria. Are they using it in Central Bank (of Nigeria)? Are they using it in NITDA?
“So let’s respect the peculiarity rather than trying to put all of us into a small hole. And finally, sir! No country in the world will harvest the data of the academics, package it and give it to a foreign company. No country in the world! Thank you.”
Osodeke also told Ngige while leaving that he can go and tell lies to the public.