President Goodluck Jonathan Begs ASUU!

President Goodluck Ebele 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 urged ASUU members to heed his appeal saying that whatever their grievances might be, keeping students out of school for four months was unpatriotic.

In his very words:
"I once again appeal to the entire membership of ASUU to pause and ponder on the adverse effect of their actions 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 in the most developed, that has provided the facilities for every worker.

Our security services - the Police, the Armed Forces, Navy, Air Force and other paramilitary intelligent services are also operating in an environment that is not the best. If all of us should go on strike because our environment is not at its optimum, then definately we can never get the Nigeria of our dreams. 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 the 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 interest, they have also achieved that by keeping students out of school for more than a semester" he said.

The President emphasized 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."
He noted that as long as government had shown commitment to improving the quality of infrastructure in the university and the operating environment, ASUU should consider its stand.
President 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. [As reported by Vanguard Newspapers].

What is your reaction to this? He sounds really sincere. Remember he was once a lecturer in a tertiary institution - so he might actually feel what the students and ASUU are going through. Do you think the Presidency is being honest contrary to ASUU's viewpoint or do you justify ASUU's bumper demands from the coffers of the FG? Let us exchange ideas and viewpoints. Thanks.
@inspiredMI_


Thanks For Reading!
Have yourselves an INSPIRED LIFE!
mfonobonginyang@gmail.com
(+234) 70 3821 4925
M."I".I (c) 2013.