So, for about four months now, we've sat on our asses and watched ourselves just get fatter by the day. Its a sad situation, but more than that, its just plain annoying, and even if at some point I applauded ASUU's courage in demanding what they think is their right.
Recently however, I'm not very big fans of them. Take a look at what The Nation has to say... be sure to drop your own opinions on the recent back and forth between these two bodies.
"Following threats
from the Federal Government, leaders of the Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU) yesterday relocated from Abuja to their various campuses in
readiness for expected crackdown.
It was gathered
that President Goodluck Jonathan might no longer be directly involved in
negotiation with the lecturers because he is angry with ASUU leaders for three
reasons, namely their contempt for the office of the President, their decision
to issue new conditions and their alleged backing by some external forces.
Investigation
revealed that after spending almost a week in Abuja for the resumption of
talks, the ASUU leaders were left with no option but to go back to their
various campuses.
It was learnt that
the leaders felt disappointed that in spite of the fact that they had avoided
making the negotiation talks a media affair, the Federal Government bungled the
opportunity to wrap it up.
A top leader of
ASUU, who spoke in confidence, said: “Our leaders have returned to their
campuses. They were disappointed with the Area Boy or Agbero method adopted by
the Minister.
“The military
style of the Minister of State for Education will only compound the situation.
“So, we are back
to our trenches as it was the situation during the military era. We are ready
for the worst now.
“If the situation
becomes uncontrollable, we will also go underground and resort to guerilla
tactics.”
There were
indications yesterday that the Federal Government might level sabotage
allegation against the lecturers if they remain unyielding and the strike
paralyses universities.
A senior
government official, who confided in THE NATION, said: “We hope that they will
not overreach their bounds, because what they have done in the last four months
amounted to economic sabotage.
“If they continue
to take the law into their hands by paralysing activities in the universities,
we may try them for economic sabotage. This is also the extreme end the
government may go too.
“Let them study
the enabling laws to see what they have been violating. We are not yet disposed
to wielding the big stick, but if the government is pushed to the wall, it will
invoke relevant laws to manage the situation. We are waiting for what they will
do.”
Top ASUU leaders
were said to have been placed under security watch at the time of filing this
report.
A different source
said: “All the security agencies have been directed to protect lives and
property on all the campuses nationwide, especially in the universities that
have reopened.
“Union leaders are
also under watch to prevent recourse to self-help, which may lead to wanton
destruction of property.
“The government
will not tolerate any intimidation or harassment, and any violent union leader
risks being arrested. But those who restrict themselves to the confines of the
law have nothing to fear.”
A government
source yesterday said that President Goodluck Jonathan might no longer be
directly involved in negotiation with ASUU to preserve the Office of the
President.
A government source
said: “We are trying to insulate the Office of the President from further
negotiation with ASUU if at all the union will allow such or there will be room
for such.
“We think relevant
ministers and the Committee of Pro-Chancellors/Vice-Chancellors should be able
to handle the rest of the talks/negotiation.”
According to
investigation, the December 4, 2013 ultimatum given by the Minister of State
for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, followed the directive of the Presidency.
The government
source added: “The President is angry because he over-indulged ASUU leaders. It
is only in Nigeria you see the President sitting for 13 hours with union
leaders on any issue and at the end of the day, there will be no courtesy from
the union.
“While the
President was expecting feedback from ASUU leaders within 72 hours, they kept
him in suspense for two weeks or more.
“And instead of
feedback on where the talks stopped, ASUU leaders came up with fresh conditions
when even during the negotiation, they admitted that some of the clauses in
2009 agreement cannot be implemented.
“The President is
human. He now has every cause to believe that the strike action seems to have
the backing of external forces seeking to bring his administration down. That
was why he decided to come down hard on ASUU too.”
Now that the federal government has deployed police officers to all federal campuses (according to punch) what's the next step please?
