ASUU Strike Threatens Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020 – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday
reiterated his plea for the Academic
Staff Union of Universities to call off its
strike action which is entering the sixth
month.
The President, who spoke in an address
at the opening session of the All
Nigerian Judges Conference in Abuja,
which was organised by the National
Judicial Council, NJC, argued that
Nigeria’s socio-economic development
could be hampered if there is no
industrial harmony in every sector.
The President also downplayed the sack
threat issued to the striking lecturers by
the supervising Minister of Education,
Nyesom Wike, saying that ASUU had the
right to embark on the industrial action.
“This administration recognises and
respects the right of workers, including
the right to embark on industrial action
to press home their demand”, Mr.
Jonathan said, adding that government
had also taken concrete steps to address
the grievances of ASUU.
“I, therefore use this occasion to call on
ASUU to call off its strike”, the
President pleaded.
“With this, Nigeria’s quest to become one
of the world’s 20 largest economies by
the year 2020 cannot be achieved in an
atmosphere of industrial disharmony.
Nigeria’s geopolitical history has been
characterised by incessant labour
disputes and industrial actions.
“While views may differ on the utility of
industrial action as a means of
advancing the collective interest of
workers in the polity, it is an
unassailable fact that labour and
industrial harmony is sine qua non for
the socio-economic development of any
nation, Nigeria inclusive”, he stressed.