President Goodluck Jonathan says the strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities since July 1, 2013 over the non-implementation of 2009 agreement with the Federal Government is no longer a trade dispute but a subversive action.
Jonathan said this at the Peoples Democratic Party state caucus meeting at the Government House, Yenagoa. The meeting, presided over by the party chairman in the state, Col. Samuel Inokoba (retd), started late on Friday and ended on Saturday.
The President was reacting to a plea by a former governor of the state, Mr. Diepreye Alamieyesigha, on the December 4 deadline given to ASUU to call off its strike or be sacked.
Alamieyesigha noted that the same date was fixed for the burial of late Prof. Festus Iyayi, who died in a road accident in Kogi State on November 12, en route Kano for the national executive council.
The NEC meeting was meant to deliberate on the latest government offer after meeting with Jonathan on November 4 to the early hours of November 5.
The former governor, who is also the Chairman Elders Advisory Forum in the state, urged the President to reconsider the date in order not to be seen as insensitive.
President Jonathan said despite holding the longest meeting in his political career with all the highest officers in his administration present including the Vice-President, Minister of Finance, Minister of Labour, Minister of Justice, the Secretary to the Government and the delegation from the Nigeria Labour Congress, ASUU did not deem it fit to reconsider its stance.
Jonathan said, “What ASUU is doing is no longer trade union. I have intervened in other labour issues before now, once I invite them, they respond and after the meeting they take decision and call off the strike.
“At times, we don’t even give them a long notice unlike in the case of ASUU that was given four days notice before the meeting. As you are meeting to resolve trade disputes, you expect the trade unions to get their officials ready. What was expected having met with the highest authorities in the land for long hours, was for ASUU to immediately issue a statement within 12 or latest 24 hours to state their position whether they were accepting government’s offer or not. And if they are not accepting, they state the reason for that.
“But despite the fact that I had the longest meeting with ASUU in my political history, we did not start that meeting until around 2 pm and the meeting ended the next day in the early hours of the morning. As far as the government of Nigeria was concerned, all the critical people that should be in a meeting were there, so what else do they want?
He added, “After that, they didn’t meet until one week, despite the fact that you met with the highest authority. It was unfortunate one of them, Prof. Iyayi died.
“The way ASUU has conducted the matter shows they are extreme and when Iyayi died, they now said the strike was now indefinite, our children have been at home for over five months.
“We didn’t give them ultimatum; it was the Committee of Vice Chancellors that took that decision. The supervising minister of education only passed on the decision. What ASUU is doing is no longer trade dispute but subversive action. But like you rightly noted so that we will not be perceived to be insensitive, we will consult on the deadline.”
The Federal Government had on Thursday given ASUU one week ultimatum to call off strike or consider themselves sacked.
Meanwhile,the Academic Staff Union of Universities has dared the Federal Government to reopen the universities.
The ASUU chairman at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Prof. Adegbola Akinola, said this in an interview with our correspondent in Osogbo on Friday.
The ASUU chairman said members of the union were unfazed by the deployment of troops to varsities.
The don said he was not sure that the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, had the consent of President Goodluck Jonathan before issuing the ultimatum.
He stated that the union did not shut the universities but just withdrew services of its members to press home their demands that government should take steps to reverse the decay in the public universities. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No need of dedline,sack them.cause they're insensitive to plight of the students and their sponsors.
ReplyDeletelnfact students should go all out and flush them and their families from the official quarters since they have chosen perform the functions for which purpose they were given such residents.
You're simple minded ignorance is blocking it Nigeria's process
DeleteThanks alot Alemeiseya for the advice. I think what our president is lacking is team of rational advisers that will look into his face and tell the truth even if it pains. Mr president what is the essence of having eight to ten hours of meeting with your executives but still no meaningful result, it means something is wrong somewhere. From the look of things Mr president you can't get what you from ASUU and the reverse please you people should sincerely reach a truce. Because treat tactics will not work. ONCE AGAIN MR PRESIDENT YOU NEED GOOD ADVISERS, NOT PSYCHOPATHS.
ReplyDeleteFuck u,think before you comment.
DeleteWhy don't you comment you own, must you curse him before we know that you know how to read and write. This is the only reasonable comment from khalid I've ever seen,
DeleteThe Best TALKING President!
ReplyDeleteEvents unfolding reveal that those in position of authority in Nigeria do not possess the much needed basics of Leadership.
If a sitting President presided over a meeting to resolve a conflict and yet there is this level of Mistrust, Loss of Confidence and Great Suspicion. Then the current Nigeria Leadership has FAILED!
QED...
Those Who are Behind Boko Haram Has hijacked ASUU.... They do everything to discredit this administration.... BUT ONLY THE WISE WiLL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT GEJ Normata their blackmails...
ReplyDeleteTHey Use the money they have looted from this country to buy arms for Boko Haram,,, The Executive body of ASUU Has been Hijacked by this Same People... ARE WE GOING TO VOTE SUCH PEOPLE INTO POWER AGAIN,,WITH THEIR BLACKMAIL ???????
Point of correction your excellency. It is a fight for the survival of education in Nigeria. You politicians are the ones looking for trouble by stealing he country dry with nothing remaining to take care of your people's basic needs. Should Professors go to the creeks like the militants or take up arms like Boko Haram or resort to kidnapping before you start funding education? Your statement will never win the government sympathy. Do the needful (ala Stella Oduah) so that education can thrive one more time in our country.
ReplyDeleteAll those who attribute any voice of reason to the handiwork of he opposition are the real enemies of the state. If Jonathan wants to end the strike today amicably, he knows what to do rather than playing senseless politics and looking for sympathisers. Nobody can trust you, even your children, if you take them and continue to take them for granted.
ReplyDeleteWhat has ASUU demanded that is so difficult for the Federal Government to meet? The Federal Government should know that nothing worthwhile can be achieved through threats. The power to end this ASUU strike lies wholy in the hands of the Federal Government. Start by releasing the Lecturers' unpaid salaries.
ReplyDeleteDon't conbine Politice with academic, they are not Related, if the Lecturas were to be ur Father will u ask Mr President to sack them? Sacking our Lecturas will only wast our time it will not help us. So GEJ should do the right thing. May God help our leaders.
ReplyDeleteKhalid Vs Emex. Based on Objective criticism. Emex 1 - 0 Khalid. Khalid is purely sentimental, neva has he commented any positive on GEJ. Khalid what state re u from n tell us the achievements of ur Governor n hw many times u criticize him. Finally why is ur energy on the Presidency or re governors not also responsible for devt. This Question also goes to El- Matosky.
ReplyDeleteThis adage, "youths are the future leaders of a nation," does not hold for this country Nigeria. Nigerians has to prefer prof. Iyayi's burial to ASUU calling off the strike so that our youth will go back to school. I think ASUU is taking it too far. I wish them luck.
ReplyDelete@Emex, I believe the time is right for U to VISIT LUTH! U seems to be SUFFERING from CEREBRAL DISEASE.
ReplyDelete@Umpire, U trully have gone HEYWIRE! Why U MUMUs see reasons in ASUU'S demand?
What is the benefit of going to the UNIVERSITY and later the people who hoped to employ U, will refer to U as a "QUARTER BAKE" GRADUATE?
Besides, ASUU's reply to Bros Jona is " Sir, we accept Ur new offer, but for record purpose & history's sake, put Ur offer in black & white " Bros Jona, begin talk of REBELLION. If him see REBELS na 6ft for am O.
So EMEX & UMPIRE, pls for the first time in Ur SYCHOPHANT lives be reasonable on this ASUU/FGN face-off and make reasonable COMMENTS. For me, a student-currently studying M.sc in Computer Science, ASUU is fighting a just course, take it or leave it BLOCK HEADS!
Fully agreed
DeleteEl- Matosky.is a stupid boy,
ReplyDeleteand u ar more stupid...
DeleteI think it's U that missed the Point in here Empire!
ReplyDeleteJonathan should sack any lecturer who wants to still continue with the strike. The strike has lost its points. Y should they ask for salaries for 4 months dey didn't work, dats madness. If dey say dey r after educational reform den i strongly believe d reform should start with dem. Dey have being lecturing students for some years n d out keeps deteriorating. Building structures without flushing d incompetent lecturers will not change anything. Any lecturer who will wish for d strike to continue, does not have d interest of students in mind, n dats d truth. We know d truth but prefere to look d other way. If we are to stop being political about it n reasonable den we will agree, dat want needs to b done, needs to b done. Besides we need fresh brains in nigeria both in d political n educational sector.
ReplyDeleteThis govt is a serial liar. The pronouncement was made on thursday and "minister' of education met with the VCs on Friday. This government can never be trusted. remember,fuel sudsidy scam is still fresh.
ReplyDeleteWhat was the outcome of the President's meeting with ASUU? We should be told. Having a mere meeting without any outcome is useless. So, Federal Govt. should tell us what they have done so far in concrete terms. What happens to agreement reached in 2009? Has it been met by the Federal Govt? If not why? We have not been told. What we have been hearing is go back to work. But we have not been told what they have done in terms of the agreement. Let us be rational in our reasoning. As a citizen of Nigeria I am aware what our politicians are doing. They are not sincere. Many a times they give the public wrong information while shielding the truth.
ReplyDeleteIs a dance of shame for a former lecturer now president to say his former colleagues demands and just fight are rebellious...... When did honouring an agreement became rebellious act...
ReplyDeletewhat is d ulterior motive of ASUU.why did they not discuss all d conditions with FG when they met d President. Were all d officials not present.ASUU must compromise and concede to FG. They have over stretch their limit
ReplyDeleteThe future of Nigeria on Education is frail.
ReplyDeleteASUU has been on it for 5 months
ASUP (Polytechnics) too for a longer period of time
Also GRE and TOEFL have been suspended for Nigerian candidates
I don't blame them, how will they know the significance of educating a nation when they hold shoddy degrees