The Nigerian
Government has
decided to break off
negotiation with the
Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU) over what it called the
infiltration of the union
by the opposition to
discredit the
government. The committee set up by the Federal government to
negotiate with the union had given a verdict of
non-compromise on the part of ASUU and the security report of the infiltration of the opposition it decided to break the negotiation. It was revealed that the committee had reported to
the government that ASUU had remained ‘rigid and
unbending’ to suggestions on how to agree on
some of the issues it was agitating for so as to end
the strike which had entered its ninth week. The committee had told the government that the
union leaders were arrogant and selfish as their
interest was paramount to that of their students
who had been at home all this while.
The government after the report told the committee
members that it had fresh security report that the union’s stance on the lingering crisis in the education sector was as a result of the opposition’s infiltration into the union. It said the opposition wants to portray the
government as irrational and uncaring to the plight
of the lecturers and their students as well as
present the government in bad light to Nigerians and the international community.
The government in breaking the negotiation has
decided to fund individual student’s education as it
is done in advanced countries. As a way of making nonsense of the industrial
action by ASUU, SaharaReporters gathered that the
government plans to introduce loans to the students throughout their period in the university so as to cushion the effect of the financial hardship
on the students.
The government expects the students to re-pay the
loans after graduation provided they get jobs of their choice. It however could not be ascertained
how the loan to the students would compel the lecturers to call off the strike. The National President of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Fagee, had
last week during a press conference at the University of Lagos, Nigeria said the union had
pulled out of the negotiation between the union
and the Nigerian government citing insincerity as
reason for its decision, adding that the union would
not call off its strike until the agreement the
government signed with the union in 2009 is honoured.



Source: http://www.nigeriaonpoint.com/2013/08/federal-government-stops-negotiations.html

ACADEMIC: ASUU officials, SPN engages in street brawl

Posted by: legis admin Posted date: August 27, 2013 | 5:48 pm In: DEMOCRACY

LEGISREPORTS NG – Leaders of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) who were on public protest on the streets of Calabar and key officials of Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) who, too, were on similar mission, threw caution to the wind when both engaged in a free-for-all fight opposite Governor Liyel Imoke’s office in Calabar yesterday.

None of the parties agreed to allow peace to reign as each wanted to spear-head their protesting group into the governor’s office.

When SPN leaders saw that ASUU officials, Non Academic Staff of Universities, National Union of Teachers, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities in collaboration with Joint Action Front (JAF) were having upper hands, they ordered their boys to shove the ASUU officials aside and take over the protest.

This therefore caused both groups to drag themselves about; punching, tearing each other banners and calling themselves names.

It took the hard intervention of mobile policemen on patrol in the neighbourhood and those at the governor’s office to separate both officials and to restore peace. An ASP that led the police team warned them against further disruption of public peace otherwise they would have themselves to blame.

Speaking for leader of the SPN, Segun Sango, an official that refused to disclose his name, said that they were not actually out to disrupt the mass protest by ASUU and JAF to save public education but to join forces with them as they too have been at the vanguard in condemning what he called ‘federal government’ recalcitrance’, adding that ASUU and other Trade Unions must mobnilise for.

Chairperson of JAF, Dr Dipo Fashina could not immediately comment on the street brawl by his men and those of SPN but an official of ASUU said SPN came from nowhere to hijack a well-intended protest which they had invested much resources to express their disgust over federal government’s disregard for public education.
This report was prepared by our reporter in Calabar.

Source
ACADEMIC: ASUU officials, SPN engages in street brawl http:///CBZL8NRDPm

where's this country heading to?