We didn’t give ASUU ultimatum – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has weekend, said his
government did not give the Academic Staff Union of
Universities, ASUU, an ultimatum to resume work or be
sacked.

Fielding questions from newsmen at the expanded caucus
meeting of the Bayelsa State Peoples Democratic Party held
at Government House, Yenagoa, the President said, the
Supervising Minister of Education only passed on the
decision of the Committee of Vice Chancellors.

"We didn't give them ultimatum; it was the Committee of
Vice Chancellors that took that decision. The Supervising
Minister of Education only passed on the decision."

Jonathan also said the strike embarked upon by the ASUU
was no longer a trade dispute , but a subversive action.

He said, "What ASUU is doing is no longer trade union. I
have intervened in other labour issues before now, once I
invite them they respond and after the meeting they take
decision and call off the strike.

"At times we don't even give them a long notice,unlike, in
the case of ASUU that was given four days notice before the
meeting. As you are meeting to resolve trade disputes, you
expect the trade unions to get their officials ready.

"What was expected having met with the highest authorities
in the land for long hours, was for ASUU to immediately
issue statement within 12 or latest 24 hours , to state their
position whether they were accepting government's offer or
not. And if they are not accepting they should state the
reason for that."

"But despite the fact that I had the longest meeting with
ASUU in my political history, we did not start that meeting
until around 2:00pm and the meeting ended the next day in
the early hours. As far as the government of Nigeria was
concerned, all the critical people that should be in a meeting
were there, so what else do they want?

"After that they didn't meet until one week, despite the fact
that you met with the highest authority. It was unfortunate
one of them, Prof. Iyayi died.

"The way ASUU has conducted the matter shows they are
extreme and when Iyayi died, they now said the strike was
now indefinite, our children have been at home for over five
months."

Source:vanguard