ASUU STRIKE: FG rejects intervention by Shagari, Obasanjo, others
The
Federal Government has rejected the suggestion to involve past
Presidents/Heads of States, governors and traditional rulers in its
current face-off with the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
National President of Nigerian Union of
Teachers, Michael Olukoya, had after a palliative meeting with the
Minister of Education, Nyeson Wike; and the Minister of Labour and
Productivity, Emeka Wogu, in Abuja offered the suggestion.
The suggestion came to the heels of
recent treats by the NUT to embark on sympathy strike with ASUU, if
government failed to resolve the crisis.
Although Wike told journalists that the
advice would be looked into but investigations by our correspondent
revealed that the government’s team had not considered heeding the
advice almost four weeks after it was given.
Our correspondent also learnt on Monday
that the NUT had been taking submission from its state executives on the
modalities and strategies to adopt in their sympathy strike with ASUU.
A government source who spoke to our
correspondent in confidence said, “The Federal Government team is
strong
enough to broker peace with ASUU. There is no need in involving other
persons not in government in the discussion when we are already
achieving progress”.
Asked why the government made commitment
to the NUT when it was suggested, the source reply, “There was no
commitment anywhere. It was a meeting where stakeholders express their
desire to move the sector forward. So it was out of mutual respect that
both parties spoke.”
When contacted on whether the government
has taken steps to involve the past leaders as promised, Special
Assistant (Media) to Wike, Simeon Nwakaudu said, “ I don’t understand
what you mean by promise. All I can say is that government is desirous
to find a lasting solution. And it is working towards that.”
Olukoya had suggested that given the
inability of some committees earlier set up to settle the crisis, the
Federal Government should seek the intervention of past presidents,
governors, traditional rulers and serving Senators.
He said, “With the way this strike has
lingered on for three months, we believe government should explore all
modalities to end it. Government should invite past heads of states,
speakers, senators , ministers of labour and education and every other
stakeholder in the sector to resolve this ugly situation.
“Call powerful voices like traditional
leaders to intervene in this strike because our concern as teachers is
that as these undergraduates stay at home, they are prone to negative
vices and in turn these are the same people that would lead the society
in future.”
