Jonathan Says ASUU Strike No Longer a Trade Dispute
Article |
The
strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), since
July 1st is no longer a trade dispute but subversive action, President
Goodluck Jonathan has said.
The President was speaking in reaction to a plea by the former governor of the state, Dipreye Alamieyesigha, for an extension of the December 4th deadline given to ASUU to call off the strike action or have their offices declared vacant.
The President stated this at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state caucus meeting at the Yenegoa Government House, which presided over by the State party Chairman, Col Samuel Inokoba (rtd).
Alamieyesigha noted that the same date given the union was the date fixed for the burial of late Professor Festus Iyayi.
Iyayi died in an accident in Kogi State on November 12th, enroute Kano for the National Executive Council (NEC), meant to deliberate on government's new offer, after meeting with the President .
The former Bayelsa governor who is also the Chairman of the Elders Advisory Forum in the state, urged the President to give them another date, so as not to be seen as seen as insensitive, though ASUU's action was worrisome.
The President decried the fact that despite sitting through one of the longest meeting in his political career with all the highest officers in his administration present including the Vice President, Minister of Finance, Minister of Labour, Minister of Justice, the Secretary to the Government and the delegation from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), ASUU still did not deem it fit to reconsider their stance.
According to him: "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. A times we don't even give them a long notice unlike in the case of ASUU that were 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 authority 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 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 2 p.m. and the meeting ended the next day in the early hours of the morning. As far as the government of Nigeria was concern 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 were extreme and when iyayi died they now said the strike was now indefinite, our children have been at home for over five months.
"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."
Jonathan used the occasion to thank the Bayelsa people for their prayers and support while ill in London and hospitalised.
The President also used the occasion to hammer on the need for stakeholders to be united, adding that the key to political success was the unity of the people and that divided people bring about a lot of issues.
He further noted most of the states where PDP lost elections was as a result of division within the party. "Any state the PDP is united, it will win elections. I thank you for the unity in the state" he said.
He added: "I'm happy that the division in other states PDP is not here. The unity is not automatic because as vice president I knew what I passed through.
"This is the first time this dichotomy among Abuja politicians and stakeholders in the state has been removed, and I'm grateful and I am happy the governor is leading it. I'm glad that that deadly virus has been killed.
"I'm against imposition though I am a leader of the party, but I believe I need to negotiate and consult for any appointment.
"If you disconnect from the grassroot then you are gone as a politician and I thank you (the governor) for making this happen."
The President also commended the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson for the physical development and the unity brought into the polity of the state.
"Before now militancy and cultism was the order of the day, Bayelsa was not safe but with Dickson coming on board, that is no longer happening. Bayelsa was so unsafe that the small hotels were abandoned, this peace and unity is very important to me.
"Any former governor who does not want his successor to surpass him must be a witch. Spending the night in a local government in what you call a thank-you-tour will challenge the local government chairmen to develop the area to accommodate dignitaries. They will note that our local government headquarters are mini cities that must be developed," he said.
In his remarks, Dickson commended the President deep interest in the state caucus and for making out time despite his tight schedule to be part of it, where issues affecting the party are discussed and solutions found.
He also noted that the President was no longer contending with needless distraction from his own state, adding "those days are gone and gone for goods".
He called for more understanding, solidarity "in view of the times we are in. I urge stakeholders to be supporters and not detractors. Be supporters in your actions and your words.
"We know the plans of our detractors, anybody who is not a friend to our president is not a friend to us," he said.
The caucus moved motion that they were very proud of their leader the President and urge him to carry on no matter the distractions. They commended him for remaining undaunted and doing things never done before in the history of Nigeria in terms of development.
"We support him and will continue to do so, the first South South president is doing well, and we hope other parts will do same so that he will continue to support him."
Earlier the party chairman, Inokoba, had described the G7 governors as the voices of anarchy who were out to destroy what the nation's founding fathers started, expressing happiness that such elements were squashed in Bayelsa State before they reared their ugly head.
He urged all stakeholders in the state to continue to support the president as he faces the daunting task of ruling the country as well as the governor.
Alamieyesigha also described PDP defection to an opposition party as "a national embarrassment and time has come for national party to take action to nip future occurrence in the board".
Others present at the meeting were the Deputy Governor John Jonah, members of National Assembly from the state, members of state assembly, members of State Executive of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Deputy National Chairman.
The President was speaking in reaction to a plea by the former governor of the state, Dipreye Alamieyesigha, for an extension of the December 4th deadline given to ASUU to call off the strike action or have their offices declared vacant.
The President stated this at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state caucus meeting at the Yenegoa Government House, which presided over by the State party Chairman, Col Samuel Inokoba (rtd).
Alamieyesigha noted that the same date given the union was the date fixed for the burial of late Professor Festus Iyayi.
Iyayi died in an accident in Kogi State on November 12th, enroute Kano for the National Executive Council (NEC), meant to deliberate on government's new offer, after meeting with the President .
The former Bayelsa governor who is also the Chairman of the Elders Advisory Forum in the state, urged the President to give them another date, so as not to be seen as seen as insensitive, though ASUU's action was worrisome.
The President decried the fact that despite sitting through one of the longest meeting in his political career with all the highest officers in his administration present including the Vice President, Minister of Finance, Minister of Labour, Minister of Justice, the Secretary to the Government and the delegation from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), ASUU still did not deem it fit to reconsider their stance.
According to him: "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. A times we don't even give them a long notice unlike in the case of ASUU that were 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 authority 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 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 2 p.m. and the meeting ended the next day in the early hours of the morning. As far as the government of Nigeria was concern 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 were extreme and when iyayi died they now said the strike was now indefinite, our children have been at home for over five months.
"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."
Jonathan used the occasion to thank the Bayelsa people for their prayers and support while ill in London and hospitalised.
The President also used the occasion to hammer on the need for stakeholders to be united, adding that the key to political success was the unity of the people and that divided people bring about a lot of issues.
He further noted most of the states where PDP lost elections was as a result of division within the party. "Any state the PDP is united, it will win elections. I thank you for the unity in the state" he said.
He added: "I'm happy that the division in other states PDP is not here. The unity is not automatic because as vice president I knew what I passed through.
"This is the first time this dichotomy among Abuja politicians and stakeholders in the state has been removed, and I'm grateful and I am happy the governor is leading it. I'm glad that that deadly virus has been killed.
"I'm against imposition though I am a leader of the party, but I believe I need to negotiate and consult for any appointment.
"If you disconnect from the grassroot then you are gone as a politician and I thank you (the governor) for making this happen."
The President also commended the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson for the physical development and the unity brought into the polity of the state.
"Before now militancy and cultism was the order of the day, Bayelsa was not safe but with Dickson coming on board, that is no longer happening. Bayelsa was so unsafe that the small hotels were abandoned, this peace and unity is very important to me.
"Any former governor who does not want his successor to surpass him must be a witch. Spending the night in a local government in what you call a thank-you-tour will challenge the local government chairmen to develop the area to accommodate dignitaries. They will note that our local government headquarters are mini cities that must be developed," he said.
In his remarks, Dickson commended the President deep interest in the state caucus and for making out time despite his tight schedule to be part of it, where issues affecting the party are discussed and solutions found.
He also noted that the President was no longer contending with needless distraction from his own state, adding "those days are gone and gone for goods".
He called for more understanding, solidarity "in view of the times we are in. I urge stakeholders to be supporters and not detractors. Be supporters in your actions and your words.
"We know the plans of our detractors, anybody who is not a friend to our president is not a friend to us," he said.
The caucus moved motion that they were very proud of their leader the President and urge him to carry on no matter the distractions. They commended him for remaining undaunted and doing things never done before in the history of Nigeria in terms of development.
"We support him and will continue to do so, the first South South president is doing well, and we hope other parts will do same so that he will continue to support him."
Earlier the party chairman, Inokoba, had described the G7 governors as the voices of anarchy who were out to destroy what the nation's founding fathers started, expressing happiness that such elements were squashed in Bayelsa State before they reared their ugly head.
He urged all stakeholders in the state to continue to support the president as he faces the daunting task of ruling the country as well as the governor.
Alamieyesigha also described PDP defection to an opposition party as "a national embarrassment and time has come for national party to take action to nip future occurrence in the board".
Others present at the meeting were the Deputy Governor John Jonah, members of National Assembly from the state, members of state assembly, members of State Executive of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Deputy National Chairman.
