Haruna Iddrisu calls on GAUA, TUTAG to end Strike, orders universities to reopen
The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has appealed to the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) and the Technical University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (TUTAG) to call off their ongoing strike, assuring the unions that the government is committed to addressing their concerns.
The unions embarked on the industrial action over what they describe as an unfair salary structure, demanding improved conditions of service and the payment of outstanding salaries owed to lecturers on post-retirement contracts.
Speaking to the media on Monday, October 12, Mr Iddrisu said progress had been made towards resolving the issues and urged the unions to return to the negotiating table to facilitate an amicable settlement.
As part of efforts to restore academic activities, the Minister announced plans to direct the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to instruct public universities to reopen, in anticipation of the unions calling off the strike by the weekend.
He assured GAUA that the government would give priority attention to its legitimate concerns and encouraged the association’s leadership to engage its members on the progress made in negotiations.
“President of GAUA, be assured that your legitimate concerns will receive the government’s priority attention. I encourage you to go back and engage with your constituency. It is the desire of the government that the strike is called off,” he said.
Mr Iddrisu added that he expected GTEC to receive a directive before the close of work on Tuesday to request all public universities to reopen in anticipation of GAUA’s return to work.
“GTEC, you may receive my directive before the close of work on [Tuesday] to request all public universities to reopen in anticipation of GAUA’s return,” he stated.
The Minister’s appeal forms part of efforts to resolve the industrial dispute and restore normal academic activities at public universities, as the government engages the affected unions over their outstanding demands.
Source: Sekunde FM
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