The Federal Government has rejected the suggestion to
involve past Presidents/Heads of States, governors and
traditional rulers in its current faceoff with the Academic
Staff Union of Universities.
National President of Nigerian Union of Teachers, Michael
Olukoya, had after a palliative meeting with the Minister of
Education, Nyeson Wike; and the Minister of Labour and
Productivity, Emeka Wogu, in Abuja offered the
suggestion.
The suggestion came to the heels of recent treats by the
NUT to embark on sympathy strike with ASUU, if
government failed to resolve the crisis.
Although Wike told journalists that the advice will be
looked into but investigations by our correspondent
revealed that the government’s team had not considered
heeding the advice almost four weeks after it was given.
Our correspondent also learnt on Monday that the NUT
had been taking submission from its state executives on
the modalities and strategies to adopt in their sympathy
strike with ASUU.
A government source who spoke to our correspondent in
confidence said, “The Federal Government team is strong
enough to broker peace with ASUU. There is no need in
involving other persons not in government in the
discussion when we are already achieving progress”.
Asked why the government made commitment to the NUT
when it was suggested, the source reply, “There was no
commitment anywhere. It was a meeting where
stakeholders express their desire to move the sector
forward. So it was out of mutual respect that both parties
spoke.”
When contacted on whether the government has taken
steps to involve the past leaders as promised, Special
Assistant (Media) to Wike, Simeon Nwakaudu said, “ I
don’t understand what you mean by promise. All I can
say is that government is desirous to find a lasting
solution. And it is working towards that.”
Olukoya had suggested that given the inability of some
committees earlier set up to settle the crisis, the Federal
Government should seek the intervention of past
presidents, governors, traditional rulers and serving
Senators.
He said, “With the way this strike has lingered on for
three months, we believe government should explore all
modalities to end it. Government should invites past
heads of states, speakers, senators , ministers of labour
and education and every other stakeholder in the sector to
resolve this ugly situation.
“Call powerful voices like traditional leaders to intervene in
this strike because our concern as teachers is that as
these undergraduates stay at home, they are prone to
negative vices and in turn these are the same people that
will lead the society in future.”
Punchng
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