Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, has called for the disbandment of the national body of the Academic Staff Union of University.

He described the methods adopted by ASUU as immoral and self-enrichment.

Okoh spoke in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Thursday, during the Standing Committee Meeting of the Bishops Conference of the church.

He said, “The government should find a way either to privatise the universities or get ASUU to be limited to individual universities such that there will be no national ASUU body mandating even institutions without grievances to go on strike.

“There is no such body anywhere in the world. Challenges facing any institution should be treated locally without involving others.

“While the ASUU strike lasts, university lecturers are busy teaching in private universities (most of which lack lecturers) and earning money and when the strike is over, they will still be paid for the period of the strike.

“This is highly immoral and must be discouraged.”

He commended the strides of President Goodluck Jonathan in the areas of road network, turn around maintenance of airports, railways and power supply.

As a short term measure, Okoh urged government to accede to the demands of ASUU, describing the academic, moral and social implications of the strike as enormous.

He cautioned politicians about working for external detractors who had earlier predicted the disintegration of Nigeria in 2015.

He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure honesty and transparency while discharging its responsibility to the nation.

“INEC should rise above regional, ethnic, religious partisanship and deliver to Nigerians, the truth, the whole truth and nothing short of that,” Okoh said.

The cleric insisted that despite the ongoing power-play, leaders must maintain the unity of the country.

He appealed to the youths to avoid violence and other political vices while taking part in politics ahead of 2015.

Okoh said, “We make a sincere appeal to politicians as they plan, disagree, challenge one another and engage in high political maneuvering, to ensure that the entity called Nigeria is spared from harm.

“We should not walk into the traps of our external detractors who had already predicted a break-up of the country in 2015.”

“We appeal to our youths to take part in politics but steer clear of political thuggery. You should not allow yourselves to be used for assassination, arson, kidnapping, maiming, looting, intimidation of opponents.

“Don’t die for any political party or any candidate because Nigeria needs you tomorrow.”

Ignis: R

Lilaex: .

sammy329: This guy is really a primate

sammy329: This guy is really a primate

Sincere 9gerian: Nigerians are so selective in their sense of what is RIGHT or BAD. It depends on whose on the receiving end.

I recall in 2012, the govt secured a court order barring NLC and TUC from embarking on the fuel subsidy strike but because it was convenient for the labour leaders to disobey the court order, the strike and protests went without that order being vacated. Many Nigerians cheered them on. But if the FG or PDP disobeys court order tomorrow, all hell will be let loose. Are the labour unions above the law?

The same applies to ASUU. Where else in the world do a group of bandits who call themselves ASUU close the doors of the universities whenever they have grievances, whether senseless or sensible? If we criticise govt for not providing for us the best of what we see in advanced countries, shouldn't we also criticise ASUU or other labour unions for this shameless practice? If people that work in Channelstv or AIT close shop every time they are owed salaries or they want salary increase, wont those TV stations have died by now? Can you imagine that these self-serving ASUU have closed the universities for about 30months in the last 10years, ie about 20% of days within the period? Trade unionism is now becoming an alternative govt, especially at the federal level. NLC and TUC in Nigeria are automatically programmed to oppose fuel subsidy removal. It is time the govt finds lasting solution to ASUU and other labour unions madness. We cannot continue like this.