The Federal Government on Monday extended its deadline for striking university lecturers to resume work. The deadline was moved from December 4 to December 9.
The government, through the acting Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, had ordered the striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to resume work onDecember 4.
The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Julius Okojie, announced the new date while addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.
Mr. Okojie explained that “Government decided to shift the deadline after it received notification of Prof. Festus Iyayi’s funeral rites slated for between December 5 and 7.
Mr. Iyayi, a former President of ASUU, died on November 12, 2013 in auto crash in Lokoja on his way to attend the association’s meeting in Kano. The accident was reportedly caused by the convoy of the Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada.
According to Mr. Okojie, the decision is also to avoid a situation where government and ASUU will have to deal with the ultimatum during the funeral of the former ASUU President.
“We just received information that the burial rites of Festus Iyayi begins on the December5 and would last till Dec. 7.
“Based on this information, government decided to shift the resumption deadline to December 9, to enable lecturers to participate in the burial,” the professor said.
The executive secretary said the directive had been communicated to the various university Governing Councils and Vice Chancellors for onward transmission to the academic staff.
Mr. Okojie added that there was no intention to victimise any lecturer for participating in the strike.
He said the victimisation clause which members of ASUU were using to discredit the government never came up when the unionists met with President Goodluck Jonathan on November 4.
“On the November 4, Jonathan had a meeting with ASUU. In attendance were senior government officials, the Ministers of Labour, Finance, Education, NLC, TUC, SGF, Chief of Staff to the President and a host of others.
“I recall the remarks Mr. President made that day that something has to happen, that all parties had to find solution to the nagging problems of our universities.
“ASUU came out from that meeting which lasted for over 13 hours, to say they would communicate with us through their principal officers.
“Let me also emphasise that the drafting of that communiqué had the input of ASUU,” he said.
The NUC boss said he wondered why ASUU would return three weeks later, after it had failed to get back to government on November 8 as agreed, demanding addition of new clauses.
“The 2009 agreement stipulates that any party that wants a re-negotiation should inform the Ministry of Labour.
“If ASUU had said they would resume, but the outstanding issues must be addressed, government would have no choice,” he said.
On the N200 billion Revitalisation Fund, which ASUU wanted government to disburse within two weeks; Mr. Okojie said the money had been deposited in an account in the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He explained that the money could not be disbursed based on ASUU’s demand because it was meant for capital projects.
According to Mr. Okojie, the order does not require students to commence lectures immediately.
“The school environment had to be made habitable for both students and the entire staff of the universities.’’
He said any lecturer who resumed work after the expiration of the new deadline would not have his or her salary arrears paid.
“You cannot pay someone who has failed to resume work. You are on strike and you want to be paid?
“What if some has already left the system? Some of our very bright lecturers may have got jobs elsewhere.’’
Mr. Okojie said government, as employer of labour, could not fold its arms while the institutions remained shut at the detriment of students.
The ASUU President, Nasir Fagge, had earlier explained that the union did not add any new demands in its letter to the president. Mr. Fagge, who said the strike would continue, condemned government’s ultimatum; same was condemned by other lecturers and civil society groups.
The ASUU boss explained that the government’s letter after the meeting with President Jonathan was not a total reflection of what transpired during the meeting.
“In the ordinary meaning of the word “resolution” the government’s letter was not a resolution. The document was a report of Government’s understanding of the decisions or agreement reached on the matters discussed with ASUU,” he said.
(NAN)

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/150820-ASUU-strike-nigerian-government-extends-ultimatum-university-lecturers-resume-work.html

HMMM

Great move by the FG. Smarter people can see through ASUU. Why didnt Fagge and his thieving crew demand for salaries they didnt work for while they were negotiating with the President? Why have they now included it as amandatory condition before the strike is called off? Isnt it obvious that the other conditions are mere covers for their greedy agenda of receiving money they didnt work for? Whoever heard of labour leaders being victimized by the govt? If the NLC and TUC leaders have not faced victimization despite theirnumerous strike actions what on earth is ASUU guardin against? What if the AG signs the agreement, would that stop the govt from reneging if they want to? These are mere smokescreens, what ASUU really want is the 5 months salary they didnt work for period!
greedy oaves

Someone obviously is not thinking rightly. Does it mean that no one knows the date Prof Iyayi is to be committed to mother earth before WIKE(We Intend Killing Education) gave a military-like execution order to ASUU to call off the strike thereby impugning on their sensibilities and humanity for a lost colleague?

Hmmm!

1. All public office holder must have their children attend public schools. Failure to comply should lead to sack/impeachment.




As long as the above is NOT in ASUU's demands, then we are rest assured that the academic sector will never improve.

'mpito' in the highest order by the fg.

wesley80: Great move by the FG. Smarter people can see through ASUU. Why didnt Fagge and his thieving crew demand for salaries they didnt work for while they were negotiating with the President? Why have they now included it as amandatory condition before the strike is called off? Isnt it obvious that the other conditions are mere covers for their greedy agenda of receiving money they didnt work for? Whoever heard of labour leaders being victimized by the govt? If the NLC and TUC leaders have not faced victimization despite theirnumerous strike actions what on earth is ASUU guardin against? What if the AG signs the agreement, would that stop the govt from reneging if they want to? These are mere smokescreens, what ASUU really want is the 5 months salary they didnt work for period!
greedy oaves

According to the ASUU chairman, the condition for payment of their outstanding salaries was included in what was agreed with the President. Why shouldn't ASUU make it as a mandatory condition? ASUP went on strike for close to 6 months, government did not stop the payment of their salaries for the duration of the strike, same with NASU and health workers. Why was it that Government invoked a 'No work, No pay' clause when it was ASUU's turn? So what is good for the goose isn't good for the gander? Even our unproductive public officials receive their salaries for doing nothing.


We know that one of the reasons why the strike have been dragged on for long is due to lack of trust. If Government truly believes that the non-victimization clause isn't a big deal, why is Government reluctant to sign the MoU?

If the AG signs, there will no be denial later that Government did not agree to it. ASUU did not make it compulsory that it must be done by the AG, it said, any top Government official 'preferably' the AG. If Government believes that they will keep to their promise, why is Government reluctant to append its signature at least as a sign of good faith?

No matter how hard you keep up with the smear campaign against ASUU and in defense of Government even though the strike has lingered for so long which is quite unfortunate, those with good conscience will agree that ASUU had a good reason for embarking on strike. If ASUU did not go on strike, Government had no intention of injecting more funds for the revitalization of the universities. Why is it that unions have to go on strike before Government decides on doing the right thing? If the govt releases the fund and we are able to build more hostels, lecture theaters/halls and improve on the infrastructural deficits in our universities, its all thanks to ASUU's strike. I hope they(FG and ASUU) resolve the impasse before the 9th.

sagombugo: Someone obviously is not thinking rightly. Does it mean that no one knows the date Prof Iyayi is to be committed to mother earth before WIKE(We Intend Killing Education) gave a military-like execution order to ASUU to call off the strike thereby impugning on their sensibilities and humanity for a lost colleague?

Hmmm!

The way Jonathan and his touts are messing up governance in Nigeria today the word ' cluelessness' will soon become a very weak and outdated English word to be used in qualifying GEJ. Just imagine!

So angry words fail me.

TribalEAST:

1. All public office holder must have their children attend public schools. Failure to comply should lead to sack/impeachment.




As long as the above is NOT in ASUU's demands, then we are rest assured that the academic sector will never improve.

Exactly, including the minister of education who has his children at a university in ghana

wesley80:
Why didnt Fagge and his thieving crew demand for salaries they didnt work for while they were negotiating with the President?

my bros FG will pay them for all those period that they are on strike , dnt be dcve dat they wont pay , if FG does not pay it in less than a year then 2015 will start with another ASUU strike. Where was wike minister of education (State) when ASUU was busy meeting the president for good 13hrs, i guess he was planing how to throw amechi out of rivers ?
Bros in case u dont know UCH doctors have suspend their strike for 1 month, now d FG wont see them and do what is right, its afta dy embark on indefinite strike that they will now accused opposition of hijacking the strike and pple like u will come here to yarn rubbish. https://www.nairaland.com/1541651/uch-doctors-suspend-strike-month

It would have been quite humiliating for Wike to announce the extension of the deadline so he got the NUC president to do his dirty work. Is the FG trying to claim now that they weren't aware of professor Iyayi's funeral arrangements before announcing a deadline?

If they still refuse to meet with ASUU's demands by the 9th and ASUU decides to call their bluff, I wonder what the next excuse for extending the deadline will be:

"We wish to announce the extension of the deadline for the resumption of ASUU members to the 15th of January, 2014. This is to enable members of ASUU enjoy the yuletide celebrations with their families and fully recover from the stress that comes with celebrations during the period..."

Reptyle: It would have been quite humiliating for Wike to announce the extension of the deadline so he got the NUC president to do his dirty work. Is the FG trying to claim now that they weren't aware of professor Iyayi's funeral arrangements before announcing a deadline?

If they still refuse to meet with ASUU's demands by the 9th and ASUU decides to call their bluff, I wonder what the next excuse for extending the deadline will be:

"We wish to announce the extension of the deadline for the resumption of ASUU members to the 15th of January, 2014. This is to enable members of ASUU enjoy the yuletide celebrations with their families and fully recover from the stress that comes with celebrations during the period..."

o boy.,shut up ur dirty mouth

Dr2great: o boy.,shut up ur dirty mouth

u are a fool.... a very big one at that... u get waec to write next year o.... instead of reading, u are here misbehaving... mumu...

ASUU just suceeded in getting the Goverment to agree to inject N200bn per year in the Nigerian Universities. Anyone here who opens his dirty mouth to claim the strike was 'uncalled for' should show us their plan to inject those same funds into the Universities.

At the end of the day, as soon as the FG signs the agreement, everyone wins.

wesley80: Great move by the FG. Smarter people can see through ASUU. Why didnt Fagge and his thieving crew demand for salaries they didnt work for while they were negotiating with the President? Why have they now included it as amandatory condition before the strike is called off? Isnt it obvious that the other conditions are mere covers for their greedy agenda of receiving money they didnt work for? Whoever heard of labour leaders being victimized by the govt? If the NLC and TUC leaders have not faced victimization despite theirnumerous strike actions what on earth is ASUU guardin against? What if the AG signs the agreement, would that stop the govt from reneging if they want to? These are mere smokescreens, what ASUU really want is the 5 months salary they didnt work for period!
greedy oaves

omo, your madness has no bearing.

The truth of the matter Is that:
1. Our government is not responsible enough to live up to her words
2. Therefore government is not ready to sign any memorandum of understanding as it lead to commitment on their part
3. The non-victimization clause will cover the salary arrears and there are people that are planing how they will share the money they've saved for the past 5 months (don't ask me how I know this...cos am not ready to disclose my source you can take it or leave it)
4. The threat to sack all lecturers can not work because those that are ready to break the directives of ASUU leadership among their members are few (nobody wants to be pointed to as Judas)
5. Somebody told me the comment of a Vice chancellor in a Northern University on the directive of the forceful opening of the schools, he said "no serious minded vice chancellor will sack all his academic staff because replacements will not be as easy as it is being said that it can only be possible where experience from postgraduate research, publishing, teaching is not a yard stick for assessing standards)
6. Resumption this year is 50:50 chance
7. Next year will be marred with crisis in our Universities ranging from misappropriation of fund released for infrastructural development and sharing of the earned allowances to non compliance of the government with the arrangements made with ASUU.