Caleb Ifeanyi Onah, PBA Journalism MenteeChief Sam Nkire, a member of the national Caucus of the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC), has called on the Nigerian Government to take steps towards banning the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) claiming that the union has become autonomous, serving as a tool for destruction rather than development of universities in the country.
Nkire decried the long period of strikes undergone by ASUU and described it as becoming a habit for the union.
He alleged that such trend of industrial action has turned union to tools of destruction as against the that should responsibly partner with Nigerian universities for their overall development and welfare.
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Recall that ASUU has been on strike since February this year over unresolved issues contained in the agreement it had with the federal government in 2009.
ASUU has repeatedly accused the government of failure to honour agreements they had 13 years ago.
Speaking further, the APC chieftain described Nigerian universities as being better off without the union and its incessant industrial actions. Chiding what he perceived as an autonomous act by the union, Nkire said, it was wrong for ASUU to gang up and determine whether and when Nigerians go to the university.
Nkire also said the federal government has the responsibility to not allow the union or other workers to bring them to their knees, cripple the economy and shut down the society.
He, nevertheless, agreed with the challenges faced by the universities and their lecturers but beckoned on them to consider the challenges and issues affecting the nation and even countries beyond.
“Go back to work”, he advised the union and other institutions currently on strike, pleading that they consider the plight of their students and fellow workers.
The APC chief finally noted that the union has made its point clear and that the government and the people have heard them.
Remember that Part of the demands pressed home by the union is the replacement of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPS) with the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) for staff of higher institutions. However, during the week, rumours circulated that the federal government was contemplating different payment schedules for the various trade unions in tertiary institutions, but on further probe the government however denied the information, distancing itself from the arrangement.
On the other hand, they (the government) through the minister of Labour Chris Ngige lately, assured the union that efforts were being made to resolve the duel between both parties. This was the response from the government after the union met with them on Monday last week.
The minster also told newsmen that the government had not ignored the union but have actually been having meetings with them. He also mentioned that the next one is to take place on Thursday.
Nkire or whatever you call yourself, you should learn how to address issues before the students will see you as their problem and not solutions to their problem. As a father, before being APC Chieftain, you should not be biased. By your argument, it shows you reason like lgbokwe and other APC Chieftains who never felt that APC government has failed not only in Education sector, but in every ramifications and parameters of measuring governance in the country. Please keep quiet if you don’t know what to say. ASUU is a union like NANS. It seems APC hates strikes and demonstration but they neglect the Unions that can help them negotiate with the part rather than the whole. The language APC hears is proscription. May there case not be like that of a choir master who kept suspending his members until he was alone, and the people he suspended formed a new group without him. This group agitated, proscription. The other group complained, proscription. Now, ASUU, you suggest proscription. Very soon, you will proscribe NANS and Labour, Pengason and market union. However, you have the youths to contender with. Dialogue now according to the late TB Joshua.