The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, on Tuesday said that the meeting which he held with the Academic Staff Union of Universities leaders on Monday was not deadlocked as reported in a section of the media.

The minister explained that the meeting ended after two hours of commencement because parties involved in the negotiation agreed on the implementation and work plan of the reports submitted at the meeting by ministries, departments, and agencies.

A statement signed by the Director of Press at the labour ministry, Samuel Olowookere, said, “The attention of the minister has been drawn to the negative newspaper publication by some sections of the media on the on-going negotiations between the Federal Government and ASUU.

“The report said ASUU walked out of the reconciliatory meeting between them and the FG.

“The Ministry of Labour and Employment wishes to state that members of ASUU did not walk out of the meeting as reported. After the meeting with ASUU on December 10, 2018, the different MDAs were given assignments and their reports were submitted during the meeting of Monday, December 17, 2018.

“The two parties agreed on implementation and work plan of the reports and gave themselves some days to see if it can be accomplished before Christmas, hence the meeting did not last more than two hours unlike the usual protracted meeting.”

The ministry said that negotiation with ASUU was still on and that the FG was determined to reach an agreement with the union soon.

“The ministry wishes to state that the negotiations between the FG and ASUU on the resolution on the strike is still on-going and making progress as the FG is determined to resolve the outstanding lingering issue to ensure that the strike is called off and students back to school as quickly as possible,” the statement added.