ASUU Strike Threatens Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020 – Jonathan

Jonathan ASUUPresident Goodluck Jonathan on Monday reiterated his plea for the Academic Staff Union of Universities to call off its strike action which is entering the sixth month.

The President, who spoke in an address at the opening session of the All Nigerian Judges Conference in Abuja, which was organised by the National Judicial Council, NJC, argued that Nigeria’s socio-economic development could be hampered if there is no industrial harmony in every sector.

The President also downplayed the sack threat issued to the striking lecturers by the supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, saying that ASUU had the right to embark on the industrial action.

“This administration recognises and respects the right of workers, including the right to embark on industrial action to press home their demand”, Mr. Jonathan said, adding that government had also taken concrete steps to address the grievances of ASUU.

“I, therefore use this occasion to call on ASUU to call off its strike”, the President pleaded.

“With this, Nigeria’s quest to become one of the world’s 20 largest economies by the year 2020 cannot be achieved in an atmosphere of industrial disharmony. Nigeria’s geopolitical history has been characterised by incessant labour disputes and industrial actions.

“While views may differ on the utility of industrial action as a means of advancing the collective interest of workers in the polity, it is an unassailable fact that labour and industrial harmony is sine qua non for the socio-economic development of any nation, Nigeria inclusive”, he stressed.