President Goodluck Jonathan has appealed to members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to return to the classrooms in the interest of their students.
Jonathan made the appeal, Saturday in Ado-Ekiti, at the inauguration of the three-storey College of Engineering Complex at the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Ekiti State...
, which was named after the President.
The president urged ASUU members to heed his appeal saying that
whatever their grievances might be, keeping students out of school for
four months was unpatriotic.
"I once again appeal to the entire membership of ASUU to pause and
ponder on the adverse effect of their action on the future of the
vibrant youths of this great nation.
"The collective destiny of tens of thousands of tomorrow's leaders
should not be held hostage to vagaries of labour disputes.
"As long as we are humans, as long as we are a developing society,
this labour dispute must come up.
"I always say that even in the developed societies we hear about
labour dispute; and there is no society, even the most developed, that
has provided the facilities for every worker.
"Our security services, the Police, the Armed Forces, Navy, Air Force
and para-military, intelligent services are also operating in an
environment that is not the best.
"If all of us should go on long strike because our environment is not
at its optimum, then definitely we can never get the Nigeria of our
dream.
"So, let me use this unique opportunity that I am interfacing with our
future leaders, our students, to plead with ASUU members.
"If it is a genuine strike keeping students out of classrooms for
almost four months, by that they have demonstrated to everybody that
they have a case.
"And if the strike is motivated by some other interests, they have
also achieved that by keeping students out of schools for more than a
semester," he said.
The President emphasised that the freedom of association and the right
of workers to go on strike should not be abused to harm the country's
interest.
"I believe that labour has the right to go on strike, but in that
strike, any action taken must be built on patriotic zeal.
"In as much as you can go on strike, you must be patriotic to our country.
"No matter how and what you feel about Mr president and the federal
government, I plead with ASUU that for the sake of our students, they
should resume classes," he said.
Jonathan however assured all that the government would continue to
work with all Nigerians to build a better country for all and future
generation.
He noted that as long government had shown commitment to improving the
qualities of infrastructure in the universities and the operating
environment, ASUU should reconsider its stand.
Jonathan noted that if students of private universities could get
their degrees within three and half years as witnessed in ABUAD, "it
is unacceptable that students of public institutions are kept for
extra one or two years".
Jonathan made the appeal, Saturday in Ado-Ekiti, at the inauguration of the three-storey College of Engineering Complex at the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Ekiti State...
, which was named after the President.
The president urged ASUU members to heed his appeal saying that
whatever their grievances might be, keeping students out of school for
four months was unpatriotic.
"I once again appeal to the entire membership of ASUU to pause and
ponder on the adverse effect of their action on the future of the
vibrant youths of this great nation.
"The collective destiny of tens of thousands of tomorrow's leaders
should not be held hostage to vagaries of labour disputes.
"As long as we are humans, as long as we are a developing society,
this labour dispute must come up.
"I always say that even in the developed societies we hear about
labour dispute; and there is no society, even the most developed, that
has provided the facilities for every worker.
"Our security services, the Police, the Armed Forces, Navy, Air Force
and para-military, intelligent services are also operating in an
environment that is not the best.
"If all of us should go on long strike because our environment is not
at its optimum, then definitely we can never get the Nigeria of our
dream.
"So, let me use this unique opportunity that I am interfacing with our
future leaders, our students, to plead with ASUU members.
"If it is a genuine strike keeping students out of classrooms for
almost four months, by that they have demonstrated to everybody that
they have a case.
"And if the strike is motivated by some other interests, they have
also achieved that by keeping students out of schools for more than a
semester," he said.
The President emphasised that the freedom of association and the right
of workers to go on strike should not be abused to harm the country's
interest.
"I believe that labour has the right to go on strike, but in that
strike, any action taken must be built on patriotic zeal.
"In as much as you can go on strike, you must be patriotic to our country.
"No matter how and what you feel about Mr president and the federal
government, I plead with ASUU that for the sake of our students, they
should resume classes," he said.
Jonathan however assured all that the government would continue to
work with all Nigerians to build a better country for all and future
generation.
He noted that as long government had shown commitment to improving the
qualities of infrastructure in the universities and the operating
environment, ASUU should reconsider its stand.
Jonathan noted that if students of private universities could get
their degrees within three and half years as witnessed in ABUAD, "it
is unacceptable that students of public institutions are kept for
extra one or two years".
Lip service. The president should do what is right
ReplyDeleteSo nothing yet?
ReplyDelete