Lagos Calls ON Striking LASU ASUU To Embrace Dialogue

The Lagos State Government has described the strike embarked on by lecturers of the Lagos State University (LASU) as an unnecessary drawback for its spirited efforts to boost the academic standing and reputation of the institution.

The government therefore appealed to the striking lecturers to embrace dialogue instead of continuing with their industrial action.
In a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, said the striking members of the LASU branch of the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) appeared to be whipping up sentiments to justify a premeditated industrial action, as all the points they advanced could not even be properly classified as trade disputes that could warrant an “Indefinite Strike Action.”
Reacting to the call for the reversal of LASU school fee’s regime, he expressed surprise at how this could have justified a strike, noting that the lecturers were aware that government was already in constructive discussions with the students.
“It is a matter of fact that the students have already submitted a position paper on the issue which government has also constituted a 7-man committee to review and advise upon,” he said.
While explaining the government’s stance on the various issues raised by the lecturers, Ibirogba faulted them as a crude attempt to force new terms and conditions of service on the university without due regard to their practical feasibility or the state government’s interests and perspectives as employer of ASUU executives, according to him, “have in an attempt to rush out on strike, evaded all attempts to make them follow due process and engage in reasoned dialogue as regards the issues raised,” adding that most of them were not at all contemplated by the terms and conditions of the lecturers’ employment as well as its financial and academic plan.
He said following a “14- day ultimatum” issued by the union, the state government has set up an ad-hoc committee, which examined all the points raised by the lecturers”

Nigeria’s Security Situation Outcome Of Threat To Make Nigeria Ungovernable — Jang

Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang has stated that the insecurity confronting Nigeria is the outcome of earlier threat by some prominent Nigerians to make the country ungovernable.

He therefore called on President Goodluck Jonathan to take on such people.
Jang stated this while speaking with newsmen shortly after inspecting the site of the recent bomb explosion in Jos. He expressed anger over the state of the nation, especially the insecurity ravaging the country, saying there should be nobody that should be above the law, especially on issues boardering on national security.
“These people have talked and said they would make this country ungovernable. They think they can do whatever they like. Let Nigerians challenge these people. They said they would make the country ungovernable, and we have started seeing how they are trying to make the country ungovernable.
“There should be nobody that is above the law of this country. We have seen how the former president of Egypt, Mubarak, is being prosecuted; Isreal just jailed its former Prime Minister. Whatever position that you have held in this country should not make you an untouchable person. If you go against the law of the country, you should be dealt with,” he said.
“I call on President Jonathan to take on these people. Some of them are turning back to say Boko Haram is evil, but they once said they would make this country ungovernable. Who brought Boko Haram?” he asked.
Jang said that the protests on the abducted Chibok girls have been politicised, adding that some Nigerians had seen it as an opportunity to discredit President Goodluck Jonathan and frustrate his second term ambition. He however stated that the president would win the election whether such people liked it or not.
“The government is not just praying, we are taking action and if they are not willing as Nigerians to join the government to pray, we are all concerned about these girls.
“Some of us wake up in the night and pray, while some people just wear bright dresses protesting, protesting to whom? If they want to protest, let them enter the bush. I think enough is enough, Nigerians should know that this is the time of emergency and as a nation, we should put our heads together for solution,” he said.