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Fresh twists In ASUU/FG showdown

As Jonathan denies sack ultimatum

+A Chronicle of the five month strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked on an industrial action on July1, 2013, mandating the Federal Government to implement the 2009 agreement for their welfare and to upgrade facilities in the nation’s universities.

asuuOn November 5, 2013, the ASUU President, Dr Nasir Isa Fagge and some other members of the union had a round table dialogue, first with the Senate President, David Mark, which paved the way for the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan. At the end of the crucial meeting, they were offered N1.1trillion which would be disbursed in tranches. The Federal Government and the leadership of ASUU settled for the release of N220 billion per annum for the next five years.

The union immediately began consultations with its members to discuss the offer while the Federal Government pleaded with them to be reasonable with their demands so that the universities could be reopened.

On Tuesday, November 26, 2013, ASUU presented its demands, which included payment of their four month salary, to the Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, in the form of a letter which he allegedly described as outrageous and beyond what the parties had agreed in the meetings held about two weeks ago. ASUU responded to the minister’s comment, insisting they never deviated from their earlier agreement. The union stated categorically that they are not making any fresh demands. ASUU added that all they want was proper documentation of any agreement they reached.

In the words of ASUU Treasurer, Dr Ademola Aremu, “It is a pity if the Federal Government is not willing to improve the welfare of lecturers and facilities in all the universities.”

A new twist was, however, introduced to the industrial dispute when the Federal Government, through the Minister of Education, reportedly gave the union an ultimatum to end the five month strike by December 4, 2013, or be sacked!

And roundly criticized for the statement credited to the FG/ Minister of Education, the Presidency has since denied issuing such a senseless ultimatum to university teachers who are still mourning one of their colleagues, Professor Festus Iyayi, who lost his life in a fatal auto crash on his way to one of the several ASUU/FG meeting. The union has also petitioned the authorities, alleging that the famous author and socialist may have been killed.

At a function, President Goodluck Jonathan, in what appears a face saving move, explained that it was actually the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities who issued the sack threat.

Meanwhile, some federal universities like the University of Abuja and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and others have asked their lecturers and students to return to school. The Federal Government was also reported to have deployed security personnel to some of the institutions to prevent radical lecturers from molesting their members or students who will take advantage of the directive.

With students spending almost six months at home, the consensus is that the latest subtle move by Nigerian authorities to break the rank of ASUU may yield its desired fruit. But skeptics are insisting that employing a crude method to subdue the union is not a better option. They would rather stakeholders continue with the ongoing negotiation to resolve the festering issue once and for all.

 – UCHE OLEHI and AJOKE ONITOLO

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