Osodeke also said appeals by well-meaning Nigerians played a part in the decision of ASUU and blamed Ngige for the prolonged strike
By Kehinde Okeowo
The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, has said his union called off its eight months old strike to comply with the Appeal Court ruling.
Osodeke made this known while on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, where he also stated that appeals from Nigerians equally influenced his union’s decision.
He said, “As you have seen from our press release – although there were interventions by the Speaker (Gbajabiamila) and others – the major reason we are resuming is because we are obeying the industrial court’s judgement. The issues have not been fully resolved and no agreements signed.
“We are resuming because we are a law-abiding organisation and we don’t want to break the law.”
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The University don went on to say he hopes the intervention of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila will help resolve the industrial dispute.
“We are also hoping that the intervention of the Speaker as promised by him will resolve this problem within a very short time. So, the issues have not been resolved but we would resume because of that court injunction.” Osodeke added.
The ASUU National President, however, blamed the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, for the prolonged strike.
He stressed that negotiation, not force, is the best way to resolve trade disputes.
“But one of the ministers, the Minister of Labour, believes that the best way is to force them to class. But because of the interest of the Nigerian people – the students, their parents, and the Speaker who is intervening – our members will teach,” he further said.
