Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, who have been on strike for six months, defied the ultimatum given to them by the Federal Government to resume academic activities yesterday or be sacked.
They vowed to continue the strike until government meets their demands.
President Goodluck Jonathan, on his part, appealed to them to call off the strike even as the
Supervising Minister for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, yesterday, summoned all Vice Chancellors of federal and state universities to a crucial meeting in Abuja tomorrow.President Goodluck Jonathan, on his part, appealed to them to call off the strike even as the
President Jonathan, while flagging-off the 2013 All Nigeria Judges’ Conference, which commenced at the National Judicial Institute, NJI, in Abuja yesterday, begged ASUU to call-off its strike that has kept Nigerian students at home for the past five months.
President Jonathan, whose speech was read by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, said: “While views may differ on the utility of industrial action as a means of advancing the collective interest of workers in the polity, it is an unassailable fact that labour and industrial harmony is sine qua non to the socio-economic development of any nation, Nigeria inclusive.
“This administration recognises and respects the right of workers, including the right to embark on industrial action, to press home their demand and we have taken concrete steps to address the grievances of ASUU. I, therefore, use this occasion to call on ASUU to call off its strike.
“With this, Nigeria’s quest to become one of the world’s 20 largest economies by the year 2020 cannot be achieved in an atmosphere of industrial disharmony.”
Wike summons VCs
Following the expiration of the ultimatum for university lecturers to resume yesterday, Wike directed all Vice Chancellors of federal and state universities to converge in Abuja for a crucial meeting tomorrow.
Also invited to the meeting were members of the Implementation Monitoring Committee, IMC, in which ASUU has a representative.
The Zonal Chairman of University of Abuja, UniAbuja, ASUU, Mr. Clement Chup, confirmed to Vanguard on phone that the Minister invited them to a meeting.
By Taye Obateru, Ola Ajayi, Dayo Johnson, Anayo Okoli, Laide Akinboade, Daud Olatunji & Marie-Therese Nanlon
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