By Sani Wilson Enemona

Federal Government of Nigeria on Wednesday disclosed that the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities would be called off soon.

This is coming after it was said that there are no plans to establish an alternative payment table for all the labour unions in tertiary institutions.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, made this disclosure while briefing newsmen at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by the President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chambers of the presidential villa, Abuja.

Ngige assured Nigerians that efforts were underway to resolve the ongoing dispute largely fueled by payment platforms.

Daily Star Nigeria recalls that ASUU, which grounded academic activities in Nigerian universities since February 14, 2022, had insisted on the use of its own generated payment platform, University Transparency and Accountability Solution.

The Union premises its demand on claims that the government-backed Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System was shortchanging its members.

However, the Federal Government, last March claimed that UTAS was unfit for wides-cale use as it failed three integrity tests.

Aside from UTAS, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Educational Institutions also proposed their payment platform: Universities Peculiar Personnel Payroll System.

Ngige pointed out that the Federal Government was indeed engaging with ASUU, despite notions that it has been snubbing the union.