ASUU out to undermine Presidency- Okupe

Senior Special Assistant to the President
on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe has
accused the Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU) of attempting to
undermine and subvert the Presidency.
Okupe who made the allegation at a
press briefing on Sunday in Abuja
described the leadership of the union as
rigid and insensitive.
Okupe said: "The negative disposition of
the ASUU leadership is unarguably a pre-
conceived and calculated treacherous plot
pointedly intended to undermine the
Presidency and subvert the Federal
Government of Nigeria.
"This is clearly a hallmark of a leadership
that is determined to employ subterfuge
in an attempt to hold government,
students and their parents and other
stakeholders to ransom in a reckless and
irresponsible display of insensitivity,
lawlessness and absolute lack of
patriotism and even the fear of God.
"Unfortunately, all this is perpetuated
using unsuspecting but otherwise loyal,
patriotic and responsible members of
ASUU whose families are also sad victims
of this reprehensible and callous attitude
of their leadership.
"From all indications therefore and other
information available to government, it
has become obvious that this is no longer
an altruistic strike borne out of good
intentions and aimed at improving the
welfare of students and staff of the
universities and the standard of our
educational institutions.
"Rather, it is an evil programme
motivated by selfish political interests
and motivations within the polity".
The government lamented what it
described as ASUU's intransigence despite
the various concessions made to the
lecturers, stressing that the teachers have
pushed the government to the wall.
"Given the fact that government had
reached agreement with ASUU to make
available N100 billion for the provision of
infrastructure on campuses of 61
universities covered in the needs
assessment of universities, with a further
commitment of another N200 billion over
the next two years, and N40 billion of the
N90 billion Earned Allowances demanded
by the lecturers one would have
expected them to reconsider their stand.
"This was despite the fact that the ASUU
leadership in the meeting with President
Jonathan failed curiously to articulate the
basis of the calculation of the demanded
N90 billion earned allowance, which has
been on the table since 2009.
"It becomes crystal clear therefore that
the Federal Government has shown good
faith and commendable commitment by
acceding to most of the demands of
ASUU.
"This ordinarily ought to be a thing of
pride and an outstanding achievement to
the ASUU having been able to secure
these unprecedented concessions as a
direct benefit of the prolonged and
painful five month strike.
"Given this dangerous and invidious
tendency no right thinking government
sworn to protect the welfare of its
citizens will fold its arms and watch the
situation deteriorate any further.
"History has shown that when
governments worldwide are pushed to
the wall, they take whatever lawful steps
that are necessary to protect the
interests of its people and the state over
which they govern.
"This is why we make bold to state that
there is absolutely nothing dictatorial,
draconian or undemocratic in the order
by the Federal Government for striking
lecturers to return to work or face
dismissal.
"You may wish to recall that on the 5th of
August 1981, Ronald Reagan then
American President sacked 11, 345 air
traffic controllers after a two-day strike.
Reagan took the decision after the
striking workers turned down an 11
percent wage increase he had offered
them".
Okupe stated that the demands of the
ASUU leadership unwittingly questioned
the integrity of the President, adding that
the ASUU leaders went into negotiation
with government with a mindset.