Why I am angry with ASUU – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has opened up on why the Federal Government ordered lecturers of federal universities to return to work within a week or lose their jobs.
The Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, had on Thursday directed the Academic Staff Union of Universities to call off its strike latest by December 4.
Speaking on Friday night at the Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party caucus meeting at the Government House, Yenagoa, the President decried ASUU’s refusal to call of its strike even after he met with them for 13 hours.
According to him, ASUU’s action is subversive, adding that it was no longer unionism.
President Jonathan said the meeting he held with ASUU officials, which was also attended by Vice Namadi Sambo; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; and Ministers of Finance, Labour and Education was the longest in his political career.
Jonathan 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 were given four-day 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 authority in the land for long hours was for ASUU to immediately issue a 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 state the reason why.
“But despite the fact that I had the longest meeting with ASUU in my political history, we did not start that meeting until around 2pm and the meeting ended the next day in the early hours of the morning.
“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. Festus Iyayi, died.
“The way ASUU has conducted the matter shows they were extreme and when iyayi died they now said the strike was now indefinite.
“Our children have been at home for over five months.”
Former Bayelsa State Governor, DSP Alamieyeseigha, had pleaded with the President to reconsider the December 4 deadline, calling his attention to the fact that the burial of Iyayi is fixed for that date.
Alamieyeseigha said people might see Jonathan as insensitive.
Iyayi, a former President of ASUU, was killed by the convoy of Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State while on his way to Kano to attend the union’s National Executive Council meeting called to take a decision on fresh offers made by the Federal Government.
Responding to this, Jonathan said: “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.
“What ASUU is doing is no longer trade dispute but subversive action.
“But like you rightly noted, so that we will not be perceived to be insensitive, we will consult on the deadline.”
The President used the occasion to thank the people of Bayelsa State for their prayers and support, calling on the stakeholders to be united.
He added: “Any state the PDP is united, it will win elections.
“I thank you for the unity in the state.
“I’m happy that the division in other states PDP is not here.
“The unity is not automatic because as vice president I knew what I passed through.
“This is the first time this dichotomy among Abuja politicians and stakeholders in the state has been removed and I’m grateful and I am happy the governor is leading it.
“I’m glad that deadly virus has been killed.
“I’m against imposition though I am a leader of the party, but I believe I need to negotiate and consult for any appointment.
“If you disconnect from the grassroots, then you are gone as a politician and I thank you (the governor) for making this happen.”
The meeting, which was presided over by the state PDP Chairman, retired Colonel Samuel Inokoba, was also attended by the state’s Deputy Governor, John Jonah; members of National Assembly from the state; members of state assembly, members of State Executive Council of the Peoples Democratic Party; and the Deputy National Chairman.