Earlyface

President Goodluck Jonathan has weekend,
said his government did not give the
Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU,
an ultimatum to resume work or be sacked.
Fielding questions from newsmen at the
expanded caucus meeting of the Bayelsa
State Peoples Democratic Party held at
Government House, Yenagoa, the President
said, the Supervising Minister of Education
only passed on the decision of the
Committee of Vice Chancellors.
“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.”
Jonathan also said the strike embarked
upon by the ASUU was no longer a trade
dispute , but a subversive action.
He said, “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.
“At times we don’t even give them a long
notice,unlike, in the case of ASUU that was
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 authorities 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 should state the
reason for that.”
“But despite the fact that I had the longest
meeting with ASUU in my political history,
we did not start that meeting until around
2:00pm and the meeting ended the next day
in the early hours. As far as the government
of Nigeria was concerned, 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 are extreme and when Iyayi
died, they now said the strike was now
indefinite, our children have been at home
for over five months.”