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The turn taken by the ongoing confrontation between the
Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)
is a case of extreme views leading to nowhere.
This opinion was expressed by a legal practitioner, Robert Clarke, during a Channels Television programme on Friday.
The FG's ultimatum to the ASUU that on Thursday directed all Vice Chancellors and academic staff of federal universities to resume before December 4, showed that both parties did not reach a conclusive agreement in the last meeting on November 4 between the Union and the President Goodluck Jonathan, said the expert.
"There is something wrong with the agreement. They are not ordinary workers and for them to make a somersault - something must be wrong somewhere," Clarke said.
Clarke blamed both the FG and the striking lecturers for not reaching a conclusive agreement in the meeting, describing the continuing strike as a disgrace.
"For the union members to have agreed to resume without taking up such a vital issue as arrears of salaries tells much about their leadership. "We are in a democracy and the right to go on strike is guaranteed by the constitution. And it does not state that if a worker goes on strike, he forfeits the salaries for the period he is on strike,” he stated.
The lawyer added that the students were the ones suffering. He stressed the need for both parties to stop what he described as a 'hide-and-seek' game and come out plain with what their problems were.
ASUU has embarked upon an indefinite strike July 1, 2013, protesting against an alleged FG’s failure to honor an agreement signed between the FG and ASUU in 2009. On November 28 the FG gave ASUU a one-week ultimatum and promised it would sacked the lecturers should they fail to resume. The Union officials, however, dared the FG and referred to the Education Minister as a 'joker'.
This opinion was expressed by a legal practitioner, Robert Clarke, during a Channels Television programme on Friday.
The FG's ultimatum to the ASUU that on Thursday directed all Vice Chancellors and academic staff of federal universities to resume before December 4, showed that both parties did not reach a conclusive agreement in the last meeting on November 4 between the Union and the President Goodluck Jonathan, said the expert.
"There is something wrong with the agreement. They are not ordinary workers and for them to make a somersault - something must be wrong somewhere," Clarke said.
Clarke blamed both the FG and the striking lecturers for not reaching a conclusive agreement in the meeting, describing the continuing strike as a disgrace.
"For the union members to have agreed to resume without taking up such a vital issue as arrears of salaries tells much about their leadership. "We are in a democracy and the right to go on strike is guaranteed by the constitution. And it does not state that if a worker goes on strike, he forfeits the salaries for the period he is on strike,” he stated.
The lawyer added that the students were the ones suffering. He stressed the need for both parties to stop what he described as a 'hide-and-seek' game and come out plain with what their problems were.
ASUU has embarked upon an indefinite strike July 1, 2013, protesting against an alleged FG’s failure to honor an agreement signed between the FG and ASUU in 2009. On November 28 the FG gave ASUU a one-week ultimatum and promised it would sacked the lecturers should they fail to resume. The Union officials, however, dared the FG and referred to the Education Minister as a 'joker'.
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