ASUU: Presidency Tries To Justify Planned Sack Of Striking Lecturers

The Government should not be held responsible or be accused of dictatorship if the lecturers involved in the ASUU strike would be sacked, the Presidency warned.

President Jonathan has tried to justify the plan to sack lecturers in 61 universities, citing the refusal of the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off the five-month old action even after 42 of its chapters had opted out.

Speaking with the press in Abuja, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said, "The ASUU leadership refused to accede to the wishes of 42 of its 61 chapters nationwide, who voted in favour of the agreement with the President and the calling off of the strike; but in a surprise volte face presented government again with a new set of demands and considerations outside the terms agreed at the presidential intervention.

"This is why we make bold to state that there is absolutely nothing dictatorial, draconian or undemocratic in the order by the Federal Government for striking lecturers to return to work or face dismissal."

Mr. Okupen recalled that on of May 7, 2012, the Lagos State government sacked 788 doctors in its employment for participating in a three-day warning strike between April 11 and 13, 2012. He then went on saying on August 5, 1981, Ronald Reagan, the then-American president, sacked 11, 345 air traffic controllers after a two-day strike. Reagan took the decision after the striking workers turned down an 11 per cent wage increase he had offered them.

The lecturers were expected to reconsider their stand after the Government's agreement with ASUU to make available N100 billion for the provision of infrastructure on campuses of 61 universities covered in the needs assessment of universities, with a further commitment of another N200 billion over the next two years, in addition to N40 billion of the N90 billion Earned Allowances demanded by the lecturers.

"This was despite the fact that the ASUU leadership in the meeting with President Jonathan failed curiously to articulate the basis of the calculation of the demanded N90 billion earned allowance, which has been on the table since 2009," Mr. Okupe said.

The ASUU leadership have gone with a "pre-conceived and calculated treacherous plot" to undermine the Presidency and subvert the Government of Nigeria, Okupe said, despite the demonstration of good faith and commendable commitment by acceding to most of the demands of ASUU.

"This is clearly a hallmark of a leadership that is determined to employ subterfuge in an attempt to hold government, students and their parents and other stakeholders to ransom in a reckless and irresponsible display of insensitivity, lawlessness and absolute lack of patriotism and even the fear of God.

"Unfortunately, all this is perpetuated using unsuspecting but otherwise loyal, patriotic and responsible members of ASUU whose families are also sad victims of this reprehensible and callous attitude of their leadership."

No sector, even of biggest importance, Mr. Okupe warned, will be allowed to derail "our collective destiny," as President's "Transformation Agenda" is now visibly on course and has recorded much progress and outstanding achievements.

Speaking at a caucus meeting of the Bayelsa State Peoples Democratic Party in Yenagoa at the weekend, President Jonathan described the ASUU strike as no longer a trade dispute but a rebellion.

The government plans to fire the lecturers on Wednesday.

Sahara Reporters