From JULIANA TAIWO-OBALONYE, Abuja
National Union of Teachers (NUT) has insisted on joining
the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) after the
expiration of its fortnight ultimatum, which ends on
Thursday, should the Federal Government not find a way to
end the strike.
This is even as President Goodluck Jonathan has vowed
that his administration is determined to address teachers
shortage in schools in the country, noting that government
was aware that the crucial responsibilities of kindling
inspiration, encouraging creative thinking, building strong
moral character, and providing emotional support to pupils
and students are all vested in teachers.
Represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo at the
President’s Teachers’ and Schools’ Excellence Award
ceremony to mark the 2013 World Teacher’s Day, Jonathan
said the government was with teachers in moulding future
leaders and called on them to be focused on long term
benefits of their profession.
The president announced that government had so far trained
40,000 teachers at the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI),
while the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) had
expanded its support in the training of 5,000 lecturers
across higher educational institutions.
The National President of NUT, Mr. Michael Olukoya, while
fielding questions from newsmen at the event meant to
appreciate the invaluable contributions of teachers to the
advancement of the nation, advised the Federal Government
to set up a team comprising the President, Senate President,
Speaker of the House of Representatives and former
presidents such as Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and
representatives of the vice chancellors to meet ASUU and
find a common ground to resolve the impasse, warning that
failure of which they will shut down primary and secondary
schools in the country in solidarity with their colleagues in
the tertiary institutions.
The NUT president while commending the Federal
Government for providing N130 billion out of the N400
billion demand by ASUU, said even though it has
demonstrated good faith by the action, the past experiences
of government reneging on its promises must have caused
ASUU to insist that all demands be met.
Olukoya, speaking more on the planned solidarity strike
said, “the National Executive Council of our great union met
about nine days (10 days by today) ago wherein the state of
the nation was perused. We discovered that the way and
manner education is going in this country is not good and
something proactive should be done to change it. So
consequent upon that meeting, it was resolved that if in a
fortnight the lingering problem between ASUU and Federal
Government is not resolved, we should not hesitate to
solidarise with them to ensure that education is properly
footed, fitted and transformed.”
Asked if the union was going ahead despite meeting with
federal government’s team, the NUT president said, “Yes, it
continues. But let me say, immediately we gave that
ultimatum the first person to invite us was the Minister of
Labour and the Supervising Minister for Education, we met
with them and they told us all that they have been able to do
to put the matter behind us. We have not been able to meet
with ASUU but we advised that if this people said they need
about N400 billion and you have been able to provide N130
billion, well to all intent and purposes it’s a good beginning.
But then ASUU members are academics. They are not
fools.
Maybe their fear is that in the past people have been
reneging on promises. So in order to now build the
confidence into this new found love, NUT advises that they
involve powerful voices in this country like the Senate
President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, that will
take care of the legislative arm. Past heads of state like
Olusegun Obasanjo and Mr. President himself, including
representatives of Vice Chancellors of universities because
we cannot continue to stay at home.”
Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, who received
NUT award for excellence in education alongside his
colleagues in Enugu, Sullivan Chime and Yobe, Ibrahim
Gaidam, who were represented, however, appealed to the
striking workers to show some understanding, even as he
expresses confidence that the federal government will soon
end the impasse.
The supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, was,
however, shocked to hear that the NUT was going ahead
with its strike the despite talks.
He said, “they have said that (going on strike) before when
we met with them and they saw reasons that there is need
for us to work together. So if they say that they are going on
strike I’m not aware of that because I know we have had
discussions with them with minister of Labour, so it will be
surprising to me if NUT say that they want to join the ASUU
strike. I want to debunk that.”

source: http://sunnewsonline.com/new/national/nut-insists-on-joining-ASUU-strike-thursday/

Way tin dem dey wait since way dy never goooo??

This is getting interesting... Watchout for ASUU + NUT Vs FG S03E01 on thursday.


May God help us all, Nigeria students. It is only God we can lookup to now.

This is a front page material. Mods please

The truth behind the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement. www.nairaland.com/1467501/infamous-2009-ASUU-fg-agreement

front page mod what do you expect the teachers union to do their kids have been at home for months they are the ones that can't afford foreign university not ASUU or fg every sector should join in this fight I think the decision by NUT is justified anyways Thursday shall tell parents in positions pls fight for your children Thank you

GEJ has done this one again, fresh Air abi? SMH!. Let me hear any body shouting fresh Air here e go tell me whether breeze no dey him Area.

Appliedmaths.:
GEJ has done this one again, fresh Air abi? SMH!. Let me hear any body shouting fresh Air here e go tell me whether breeze no dey him Area.

FRESH AIR 4 LIFE

Appliedmaths.:
GEJ has done this one again, fresh Air abi? SMH!. Let me hear any body shouting fresh Air here e go tell me whether breeze no dey him Area.

FRESH AIR!!!