House Begs ASUU to Call off Strike …We're not aware of any strike, FG insists

In a bid to find a solution to the warning strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the House of Representatives has appealed to the body to call off the strike for the sake of students, while they deliberate with the federal government to find solutions to ending the dispute.

The House Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, made this appeal at a meeting with the Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo; Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, and ASUU President, Biodun Ogunyemi, on Thursday in Abuja.

Gbajabiamila also urged ASUU to consider the psychological effect the strike would have on the students.

He urged ASUU to obey the directive by the federal government by joining the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) with the intention of ridding the public service of corruption.

The Speaker expressed optimism in the efforts of the parliament to end the ongoing ASUU/federal government face off, making reference to its previous successful efforts which had averted some industrial strikes, such as that of Resident Doctors and the electricity workers.

According to Gbajabiamila, "We have tried to avert strikes and we have been successful at them, like that of medical and electricity workers’ strikes. It does not speak well of the country. It has become almost perennial that at every point, somebody is holding somebody somewhere.  There are basically two main issues here-agreement and IPPIS.

The law states that you should give 15-day notice. The law is not there to be broken. The notice is to delay the inevitable, which does not in any way affect the strike.

"On the other issue, agreements are not meant to be disobeyed. There has to be something called sanctity of agreements. There are situations where agreements are no longer feasible by the government. That breach is excusable. We are calling the meeting so that the National Assembly can be a part of this agreement.

 

" I have heard and read ASUU on the issue of IPPIS. Much as you may be right that ASSU should not be part of IPPIS, but we don't live in a jungle. If the government has come out with a policy for a good reason, you should obey it. The government wants you to register, while you have refused. There has to be equal application of the law. You don't have to say we have defeated the government policy, which is a well-intended policy."

He added: "We know there is corruption in every sphere of this country, including ASUU, the executive arm, labour union. Nigeria has its peculiarities, and we must accept those peculiarities. I totally disagree with the government on the issue of agreements and violation of agreements. If you were in sufficient contact with the House Committee, it could have made a case on how to make a budget on that.

"We cannot go on like this. I know the government is ready and willing to listen to you, and I want you to be able to listen to the government as well. There is a meeting today; the chairman of the Education Committee should be there. Whatever agreement that is reached, it will be made known to the world.

"It is almost embarrassing for the country, so the National Assembly is appealing to you for the sake of us children to call off this strike, let's see what we can achieve.”

While responding, President of ASUU, Prof. Abiodun Ogunyemi, stated that they cannot call off the strike without consulting the full membership of ASUU in all its branches nationwide.

On IPPIS, he said it was not possible for ASUU to join the scheme, adding that it would impede scholastic researches and image of the Nigerian universities both home and abroad.

He said: "We are not starting a fresh strike. On February 7, 2019, we signed a memorandum of action. Every item has role assigned and timeline attached. We found that for much of last year, nothing concrete was done about the memorandum of action. Three letters sequentially were written stating some of these issues. We highlighted and agreed on the memorandum of action. On the legality of the action, therefore, we are saying that the government is not unaware of what was going on.

"We won’t allow the Minister of Finance to impose IPPIS on us. It is a matter of what is reasonable. Let them tell us the global best practice that informs that. It will shut the door against scholars and researchers that we need. We have told them that it is not about us. We have no reasons to cover up corruption."

On his part, the Minister of State, Labour and Productivity, Festus Keyamo, said the government was not aware of the strike by the lecturers.

According to him, "We are extremely happy about this invitation by House. The issue is about the teeming youths at home following the strike. We in the ministry of labour up till this moment have not received any notice of any strike from ASUU. According to labour laws, ASUU should give us a 15-day notice of any strike. No agency of government received any notice. It is an illegal strike because it has not complied with the law.

"A meeting is fixed for 2p.m. today for further deliberations on IPPIS system. If we want to go to the nitty-gritty of this issue, it may take a whole day here."