You’re dealing with us deceitfully- ASUU
By Martin Paul, Abuja and Agboola Bayo, Ibadan Th e federal government has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to suspend its ongoing strike in the universities in the interest of the nation. Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, made the appeal in a statement signed by Samuel Olowookere, Deputy Director, Press, in the Ministry, yesterday in Abuja.
Ngige said there was an ongoing re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement between the federal government and the union by the Babalakin Committee. “Th e federal government has set up the Babalakin Committee on 13th Feb. 2017, which is already addressing the issues raised by ASUU. “Th ough the federal government did not wish to apportion blame, it is important to note that ASUU did not follow due process in the declaration of the industrial action. “As it did not give the federal government the mandatory 15 days’ notice as contained in the Section 41 of Trade Disputes Act, Cap T8, 2004. “In fact, it was on 14th August, 2017 that the offi ce of the minister received a letter dated 13th August 2017 from ASUU, that is, one full day after it commenced the strike,” he said. Th e union, however, accused the President Muhammadu Buhariled government of dealing with it deceitfully. ASUU Chairman, University of Ibadan chapter, Dr. Deji Omole, made the accusation in Ibadan while inaugurating a monitoring committee to ensure eff ective prosecution of the strike at the university. He declared that rather thanfunding all the existing universities, the federal government was more interested in turning the establishment of public universities to constituency projects. He said with the present situation in the country, “there is no how Nigerian universities can compete with other universities that are well funded and equipped with modern facilities as well as have a well motivated and well paid workforce. “How can we say ‘Change Begins with Me” when those leading us are not leading by examples or what can we say when the daughter of the President graduated abroad and that of the Senate President too. Even Goodluck Jonathan’s administration did better in funds allocated to education” he said. ASUU chairman added that presently, “this APC government has allocated six per cent to all cadres of education from the primary, secondary and tertiary education levels. “Th at explains why Nigeria is not developing since no nation can ever grow more than quality of education of that country. We are prepared to suff er to secure the future of our children. All of us will suff er during this strike but we believe that nothing good comes easily.” Lamenting that ASUU was pushed to the wall before taking the painful decision to embark on strike after giving government suffi cient time to attend to her demands without positive results, he said all examinations in the university had been suspended as well as all other academic activities including delivery of inaugural lectures. He, however, stated that the Professor Gbenga Olujide-led committee was empowered to ensure that no member of the union engaged in any sabotage or did anything that could jeopardise the collective interests of the union, while the strike lasted.
