ASUU Dares FG Over Forceful Reopening Of Varsities

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that any plans by the Federal Government to forcefully reopen the nation’s universities will be met with stiff resistance.

The development came as President Goodluck Jonathan has decided to personally intervene in the impasse and has summoned the leadership of ASUU to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

ASUU chairman, University of Abuja Chapter, Mr. Clement Chup, who confirmed the invitation by President Jonathan, however, insisted that anything short of a clear agenda for implementing the 2009 Agreement would not be acceptable to the union.

In a statement he signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja during the weekend, Mr. Chup, said any form of authoritarian approach in the resolution of the crisis would not work, adding that the surest and the shortest route to industrial harmony in the university system is to quickly revitalise the system.

He said: “The attention of our union is drawn to some recent reports in some media alleging that the President of Nigeria will direct the re-opening of all Nigerian universities with or without an amicable resolution with ASUU.

“Authoritarian posturing has never solved and will not solve the impasse. We are calling on Mr President to toe the path of honour and, as a democrat, respect the 2009 Agreement.

“This is the surest and the shortest route to industrial harmony in the University system and the fastest approach to revitalising the system,” he said.

On his part, chairperson of ASUU, University of Port Harcourt chapter, Professor Anthonia Okerengwo, yesterday urged the federal government to follow the path of honour in its quest to resolve the deadlock.

Okerengwo stated that arm-twisting had never worked as a dispute resolution strategy.

 

Obasanjo laughs off ASUU strike, as bells varsity celebrates 5th convocation

Former president of Nigeria and proprietor of Bells University of Technology, BELLSTECH, Ota, Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday derided ASUU’s four-month-old industrial action but he refused to take a definite position.

Obasanjo, who was asked for his view on the lingering crisis just immediately after witnessing BELLSTECH’s 5th convocation ceremony, only responded with a mild laughter and said, “ASUU! ASUU! ASUU1! Hmmmm! ASUU!”

The journalists, who had demanded to know the former President’s reaction to the fate of the teeming Nigerian students currently roaming the streets as a result of the strike, were left disappointed by Obasanjo’s disdain of the very important national issue.


Culled from Leadership