PRESIDENCY WARNS ASUU....DONT DARE US...... Presidency, on Sunday, warned the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) not to dare the resolve of government to carry out its threat to sack lecturers who continue their strike after the December 4 deadline. The presidency is angry that ASUU leaders had gone against the wish of the majority of their chapters that had voted to end the strike, following the personal intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, who gave the position during a press conference in Abuja, observed that ASUU leadership came into negotiation with a mindset which betrayed a lack of understanding that the nation and the government were a continuum. Asked whether the Federal Government could fill the vacancies that would be created if the lecturers were, indeed, sacked, he retorted: “Do you think the government is joking?” Okupe recalled that the 13-hour meeting Jonathan held with ASUU ended with a definite agreement and resolutions acceptable to the ASUU leadership, noting that the leadership of ASUU was expected to consult with its members nationwide and report back to government within one week and call off the strike, all other things being equal. “The ASUU leadership, rather than take its responsibility seriously, wasted seven days before scheduling a meeting. When the meeting was eventually held, the leadership decided to thwart and undemocratically override the expressed will of majority of its chapters to call off the strike. “This action is contrary to established practice and procedure of any democratic labour institution, which ASUU is expected to be. “The ASUU leadership refused to accede to the wishes of 42 of its 61 chapters nationwide, which voted in favour of the agreement with the president and the calling off of the strike; but in a surprise volte face, it presented government again with a new set of demands and considerations outside the terms agreed at the presidential intervention,” he said. Okupe noted that government had reached agreement with ASUU to make available N100 billion for the provision of infrastructure on campuses of 61 universities covered in the needs assessment, with a further commitment of another N200 billion over the next two years and N40 billion of the N90 billion earned allowances demanded. “The negative disposition of the ASUU leadership is unarguably a pre-conceived and calculated treacherous plot pointedly intended to undermine the presidency and subvert the Federal Government of Nigeria. “This is clearly a hallmark of a leadership that is determined to employ subterfuge in an attempt to hold government, students and their parents and other stakeholders to ransom in a reckless and irresponsible display of insensitivity, lawlessness and absolute lack of patriotism and even the fear of God. “Unfortunately, all this is perpetuated using unsuspecting but otherwise loyal, patriotic and responsible members of ASUU, whose families are also sad victims of this reprehensible and callous attitude of their leadership. “From all indications and other information available to government, it has become obvious that this is no longer an altruistic strike borne out of good intentions and aimed at improving the welfare of students and staff of the universities and the standard of our educational institutions. “Rather it is an evil programme motivated by selfish political interests and motivations within the polity. These are, quoting the late British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, the enemies of state operating from within,” he noted. The presidency commended lecturers who had made up their minds to return to classes, following the December 4 deadline given by government, while assuring them of maximum protection. Stay at home, ASUU tells students Meanwhile, ASUU has urged parents not to allow their children to resume in various universities across the country, warning that academic activities would not commence until the Federal Government perfected the resolutions reached with the union. In two separate text messages sent by its national president, Dr Nasir Fagge and chairman of University of Ibadan chapter, Dr Segun Ajiboye, to members at the weekend, ASUU said it was laughable that President Jonathan denied issuing the order to sack academic staff. “Comrades, can you see the unfolding drama? Now Jonathan says they didn’t give ultimatum, that the vice chancellors did and Wike (Nyesom) became their trumpet. But NUC’s ultimatum is by Federal Government to us to resume or get sacked. And Wike’s press address says FG has directed not VCs have directed. Be calm, stay resolute. By God, we are on course,” Fagge had stated in his text message. Dr Ajiboye, on his own, asked parents not to risk the precious lives of “our students, by releasing them,” adding that no lecturer would teach them. “Don’t risk the lives of your children, keep them at home because ASUU will not teach. Soldiers and the police deployed by the Federal Government will not teach. “Mr Wike can come and teach in university. It is a huge joke to sack professors.Our strike must not be in vain. Our students must see the results. It is funny, we thought we are in a democracy. “I assure Nigerians that we know what the law says about the strike. Our job is statue- backed. We are not threatened. We do not trust the government. The record of the government is clear. This government is dishonouring agreements. Our members are resolved to pursue this to a logical conclusion,” he said. Ajiboye said members of the union would be attending the burial programmes of the late Professor Festus Iyayi this week, adding that they would be waiting to receive their sack letters from the minister when they returned. Uncertainty in UNILAG Uncertainty reigned in the University of Lagos (UNILAG), on Sunday, as stakeholders waited with bated breath for the execution of the yet-to-be revealed plans by a faction of ASUU in the institution to commence academic activities today. The leadership of the institution’s ASUU, however, insisted that it would count for nothing, even if 50 per cent of its members resumed for work today as being insinuated in certain quarters. Nigerian Tribune’s checks on Sunday also revealed that the authorities of the institution had not issued any directives to the students to resume. ASUU factional leader, Dr Michael Ogbede, had told the Nigerian Tribune on Friday that the institution would resume academic activities today, but UNILAG ASUU chairman, Dr Karo Ogbinaka, insisted that the institution would continue with the strike until it was called off at the national level. Mark cautions FG Senate President, David Mark, appealed to the Federal Government not to wield the big stick against university lecturers who have been on strike for over five months. This was as he again pleaded with members of ASUU to reconsider their position and return to classes. He said the call became imperative in order to salvage the already battered education sector from further deterioration.
Posted on: Mon, 02 Dec 2013 04:18:24 +0000
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