Strike: You’ve Made Your Point, Return To Your Classrooms, President Jonathan Tells ASUU

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN (3RD R), CUT
INAUGURATE THE GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHA
ENGINEERING BUILDING OF ABUAD ON SATURD
FOUNDER OF THE UNIVERSITY, AARE AFE BABA
WIFE MODUPE (2ND R); GOV. KAYODE FAYEMI
OTHER DIGNITARIES. (NAN)
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
just as he noted that the striking lecturers had made
their point.
The president made the appeal on Saturday in Ado-
Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital at the inauguration of the
College of Engineering Complex at the Afe Babalola
University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD).
The three-storey college complex was also named after
the President.
Mr. Jonathan pleaded with ASUU to listen to the voice
of reason adding that whatever their grievances might
be, keeping students out of the lecture rooms for four
months was unpatriotic.
His words, "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.
President Jonathan warned that the freedom of
association and the right of workers to go on strike
should not be abused to the detriment of the country.
"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.
The president reassured all that government would
continue to work with all Nigerians to build a better
country for all and future generation.
He noted that with government's sincere commitment
to improving the qualities of infrastructure in the
universities and the operating environment, the striking
lecturers should reconsider their stand.
Mr. Jonathan noted that if students of private
universities could graduate 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".
-VANGUARD