ASUU dares Federal Government Over Forceful reopening of Universities.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that any plans by the Federal Government to forcefully reopen the nation’s universities will be met with stiff resistance.
The development came as President Goodluck Jonathan has decided to personally intervene in the impasse and has summoned the leadership of ASUU to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

ASUU chairman, University of Abuja Chapter, Mr. Clement Chup, who confirmed the invitation by President Jonathan, however, insisted that anything
short of a clear agenda for implementing the 2009 Agreement would not be acceptable to the union.
In a statement he signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja during the weekend, Mr. Chup, said
any form of authoritarian approach in the resolution of
the crisis would not work, adding that the surest and
the shortest route to industrial harmony in the university system is to quickly revitalise the system.
He said: “The attention of our union is drawn to some
recent reports in some media alleging that the President
of Nigeria will direct the re-opening of all Nigerian
universities with or without an amicable resolution with ASUU.
“Authoritarian posturing has never solved and will not
solve the impasse. We are calling on Mr President to
toe the path of honour and, as a democrat, respect the
2009 Agreement.
“This is the surest and the shortest route to industrial
harmony in the University system and the fastest
approach to revitalising the system,” he said.
On his part, chairperson of ASUU, University of Port
Harcourt chapter, Professor Anthonia Okerengwo,
yesterday urged the federal government to follow the
path of honour in its quest to resolve the deadlock.
Okerengwo stated that arm-twisting had never worked
as a dispute resolution strategy.