ASUP Condemns FG’s Lethargy In Resolving 10-month Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has condemned what it described as the lethargic response of the federal government towards resolving the 10-month-old strike embarked upon by the union.



In a communique issued at the end of its annual capacity building workshop for its officers in Lafia, Nassarawa weekend, the union said it embarked on the strike to make government urgently address issues in the technical education sector in Nigeria.

ASUP attributed the constant strikes in the education sector to the government’s penchant for always reneging on its agreements with the trade unions in the sector.
 
It Condemned the use of techniques of intimidation by state security agents and the undue politicisation of trade union disputes. This was manifested in the use of tear gas and water cannons on members of ASUP,COEASU, NLC, students and civil society groups in Abuja, while exercising their rights to peaceful protest and expression on April 29, 2014 instead of addressing the concerns of the protesters,”
it said in the communique.

Why Boko Haram Didn’t Disturb My Government – Obasanjo

Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday affirmed that he would be willing to play an intermediary role in efforts to locate and rescue the over 200 Chibok school girls still in Boko Haram custody.



He, however, said he cannot wade in without the go-ahead of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Obasanjo made this known in an interview aired last night on Channels television.

Recall that President of the Civil Rights Congress, CRC, and renowned independent mediator in the Boko Haram imbroglio, Comrade Shehu Sani had on Thursday confirmed that he attended a meeting convened by the ex-president in Abeokuta.

Sani had said in a statement that the meeting was attended by families of the Boko Haram sect members with the aim of opening new channels of communication.

“I cannot have a plan without the Presidency being involved”, he added, denying claims that he was “going on a one man mission”. He insisted that it would be “idiotic” for him to have done so.

The former president noted that he was put on the back pedal with Sani’s statement informing the state and national authorities that a meeting had taken place and admitted that he owed the government an apology for that.