President Goodluck Jonathan has
weekend, said his government did not
give the Academic Staff Union of
Universities, ASUU, an ultimatum to
resume work or be sacked.
Fielding questions from newsmen at the
expanded caucus meeting of the
Bayelsa State Peoples Democratic Party
held at Government House, Yenagoa,
the President said, the Supervising
Minister of Education only passed on
the decision of the Committee of Vice
Chancellors.
“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.”
Jonathan also said the strike embarked
upon by the ASUU was no longer a trade
dispute , but a subversive action.
He 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 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 should 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 2:00pm and the
meeting ended the next day in the
early hours. 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?
“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.”
weekend, said his government did not
give the Academic Staff Union of
Universities, ASUU, an ultimatum to
resume work or be sacked.
Fielding questions from newsmen at the
expanded caucus meeting of the
Bayelsa State Peoples Democratic Party
held at Government House, Yenagoa,
the President said, the Supervising
Minister of Education only passed on
the decision of the Committee of Vice
Chancellors.
“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.”
Jonathan also said the strike embarked
upon by the ASUU was no longer a trade
dispute , but a subversive action.
He 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 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 should 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 2:00pm and the
meeting ended the next day in the
early hours. 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?
“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.”
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