He made the appeal at the inauguration of the College of Engineering Complex at the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Ekiti State.
The three-storey college complex was also named after the President.
Jonathan urged ASUU members to heed his appeal saying that whatever their grievances might be, keeping students out of school for four months was unpatriotic.
“I once again appeal to the entire membership of ASUU to pause and ponder on the adverse effect of their action on the future of the vibrant youths of this great nation.
“The collective destiny of tens of thousands of tomorrow’s leaders should not be held hostage to vagaries of labour disputes.
“As long as we are humans, as long as we are a developing society, this labour dispute must come up.
“I always say that even in the developed societies we hear about labour dispute; and there is no society, even the most developed, that has provided the facilities for every worker.
“Our security services, the Police, the Armed Forces, Navy, Air Force and para-military, intelligent services are also operating in an environment that is not the best.
“If all of us should go on long strike because our environment is not at its optimum, then definitely we can never get the Nigeria of our dream.
“So, let me use this unique opportunity that I am interfacing with our future leaders, our students, to plead with ASUU members.
“If it is a genuine strike keeping students out of classrooms for almost four months, by that they have demonstrated to everybody that they have a case.
“And if the strike is motivated by some other interests, they have also achieved that by keeping students out of schools for more than a semester,” he said.
The President emphasised that the freedom of association and the right of workers to go on strike should not be abused to harm the country’s interest.
“I believe that labour has the right to go on strike, but in that strike, any action taken must be built on patriotic zeal.
“In as much as you can go on strike, you must be patriotic to our country.
“No matter how and what you feel about Mr president and the federal government, I plead with ASUU that for the sake of our students, they should resume classes,” he said.
President Jonathan assured all that the government would continue to work with all Nigerians to build a better country for all and future generation.
He noted that as long government had shown commitment to improving the qualities of infrastructure in the universities and the operating environment, ASUU should reconsider its stand.
Jonathan noted that if students of private universities could get their degrees within three and half years as witnessed in ABUAD, “it is unacceptable that students of public institutions are kept for extra one or two years”. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
We Nigerians Must Look beyond the impression Some Power Hungry people are trying to Portray this Government and see sincererity In this man called GEJ...
ReplyDeleteAND NO WELL MEANING NIGERIAN WILL CONDEMN THE SERVICE OF Okonjo Iweala,,, We Should All Know That Those Who THreaten To Make The Nation Ungovernable Are not folding their hands...
It is Unpatrotic 4 an Average reasonable Govt to have voluntarily enter into agreement since 2009 and up till 2013 they can not honure it just Bcus their Childrens are Schling in Abrod.
ReplyDeleteNonsense JEG will soon join the strike to protest all the incisent strikes
ReplyDeleteASUU is been used by politicians to discredit govt, govt has shifted ground but ASUU stil insist to continue strk,GEJ pls let apply No work No Pay and see if these greedy peopl won't go back to class.let them continu. Am sure what will be will be come 2015
ReplyDeleteThe sincerity is not there, for a member of his govt to buy 2 cars for N225m and he is still quite about it while telling ASUU to go back to classroom, things don't work like that.
ReplyDeleteHmmmmm........laught when two elephants are fighting many grasses will suffers it....is like a proverb but it is only intelectual people we know it......i rest ma case
ReplyDeleteGovt can't afford ASUU's demands right. Let's see how much will b spent on d coming Yuletide season. Then u see how unsincere this people can be.
ReplyDeleteASUU is very insensitive. This strike is the height of indiscipline and lawlessness among some power holders in Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteGEJ,pls change those stupid lazy lecturer,they dnt cme 2 class nd wen they cme, they only sell hand out,CHANGE them naija dnt need lazy stubborn lecturer...
ReplyDeletesometimes i wonder if we have educated people in this country who can chalange the authority of our leaders. Asuu are fightin for us poormass while some of idiot nimcapooz are there criticizing them. can GEJ luk into our eyes and tell us dia is no money to up with wat will benefit 60% of the population. wow to our leaders.
ReplyDeleteUnpatrotic
ReplyDelete