Asuu Strike Update: Asuu Leaders Relocates From Abuja To Annul FG Threat

Following threats from the Federal Government,
leaders of the Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU) yesterday relocated from
Abuja to their various campuses in readiness
for expected crackdown.
It was gathered that President Goodluck
Jonathan might no longer be directly involved in
negotiation with the lecturers because he is
angry angry with ASUU leaders for three
reasons, namely their contempt for the office
of the President, their decision to issue new
conditions and their alleged backing by some
external forces.
Investigation revealed that after spending
almost a week in Abuja for the resumption of
talks, the ASUU leaders were left with no
option but to go back to their various
campuses.
It was learnt that the leaders felt disappointed
that in spite of the fact that they had avoided
making the negotiation talks a media affair, the
Federal Government bungled the opportunity to
wrap it up.
A top leader of ASUU, who spoke in confidence,
said: “Our leaders have returned to their
campuses. They were disappointed with the
Area Boy or Agbero method adopted by the
Minister.
“The military style of the Minister of State for
Education will only compound the situation.
“So, we are back to our trenches as it was the
situation during the military era. We are ready
for the worst now.
“If the situation becomes uncontrollable, we will
also go underground and resort to guerilla
tactics.”
There were indications yesterday that the
Federal Government might level sabotage
allegation against the lecturers if they remain
unyielding and the strike paralyses universities.
A senior government official, who confided with Journalist, said: “We hope that they will not
overreach their bounds, because what they
have done in the last four months amounted to
economic sabotage.
“If they continue to take the law into their
hands by paralysing activities in the
universities, we may try them for economic
sabotage. This is also the extreme end the
government may go too.
“Let them study the enabling laws to see what
they have been violating. We are not yet
disposed to wielding the big stick, but if the
government is pushed to the wall, it will invoke
relevant laws to manage the situation. We are
waiting for what they will do.”
Top ASUU leaders were said to have been
placed under security watch at the time of
filing this report.
A different source said: “All the security
agencies have been directed to protect lives
and property on all the campuses nationwide,
especially in the universities that have
reopened.
“Union leaders are also under watch to prevent
recourse to self-help, which may lead to
wanton destruction of property.
“The government will not tolerate any
intimidation or harassment, and any violent
union leader risks being arrested. But those
who restrict themselves to the confines of the
law have nothing to fear.”
A government source yesterday said that
President Goodluck Jonathan might no longer
be directly involved in negotiation with ASUU to
preserve the Office of the President.
A government source said: “We are trying to
insulate the Office of the President from further
negotiation with ASUU if at all the union will
allow such or there will be room for such.
“We think relevant ministers and the Committee
of Pro-Chancellors/Vice-Chancellors should be
able to handle the rest of the talks/
negotiation.”
According to investigation, the December 4,
2013 ultimatum given by the Minister of State
for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, followed the
directive of the Presidency.
The government source added: “The President
is angry because he over-indulged ASUU
leaders. It is only in Nigeria you see the
President sitting for 13 hours with union
leaders on any issue and at the end of the day,
there will be no courtesy from the union.
“While the President was expecting feedback
from ASUU leaders within 72 hours, they kept
him in suspense for two weeks or more.
“And instead of feedback on where the talks
stopped, ASUU leaders came up with fresh
conditions when even during the negotiation,
they admitted that some of the clauses in 2009
agreement cannot be implemented.
“The President is human. He now has every
cause to believe that the strike action seems to
have the backing of external forces seeking to
bring his administration down. That was why
he decided to come down hard on ASUU too.”