ASUU strike: Why I am angry with union –Jonathan President Goodluck Jonathan has explained the Federal Government’s order to lecturers of federal universities to end the ongoing strike or face sack. He spoke Friday night at the Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party caucus meeting at the Government House, Yenagoa,. According to him, the union has refused to call off the action despite a 13-hour meeting he held with its leaders. Jonathan disclosed that the meeting, also attended by Vice President, Namadi Sambo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; and Ministers of Finance, Labour and Education was the longest in his political career. “What ASUU is doing is no longer trade Union, he said. “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 were given four-day 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 authority 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 why. But despite the fact that I had the longest meeting with ASUU in my political history, we did not start that meeting until around 2pm 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 quipped. “After that, they didn’t meet until one week, despite the fact that you met with the highest authority. On the death of the Union’s former leader, the president said: “It was unfortunate, one of them, Prof. Festus Iyayi, died. The way ASUU has conducted the matter shows they were extreme and when Iyayi died they now said the strike was now indefinite. “Our children have been at home for over five months!” Speaking, former Bayelsa State Governor, DSP Alamieyeseigha, urged the President to reconsider the December 4 deadline, saying Iyayi’s burial is fixed for that date. Responding, President Jonathan said: “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,” he assured. -DAILYPOST
Posted on: Sat, 30 Nov 2013 18:14:19 +0000
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