When I took the oath of office as Nigeria’s democratically elected Vice President in 1999 it was the culmination of decades of struggle against military rule. Our path to a legitimate, meaningful constitution and democracy took a personal toll on many Nigerians who fought to free us from dictatorship.
And I took the sacrifices of the many just as seriously as my oath and constitutional duties.
But the Nigerian Constitution severely restricts the powers of the vice presidency. Essentially, any executive powers or active policy roles must be delegated directly by the President. This is not an excuse; it is a constitutional reality.
So, today, six years after serving as Vice President, as a citizen of Nigeria, I am calling for an end to the almost three-month long strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which has denied tens of thousands of students an opportunity to continue their studies.
After weeks of asking Nigerians online and in meetings for their ideas on #EducationSolutions for our future, one common immediate concern kept emerging: We must end the ASUU strike. So I instructed my office to initiate an online petition advocating an end to the strike by calling on the Federal Government and ASUU to finally reach a consensus so our students can get back to school.
While our petition action has been well received, some have been critical, specifically pointing out that there were several ASUU strikes during my term as Vice President (199-2007).
The critics are not wrong. During President Olusegun Obasanjo’s two terms there were numerous strikes, including several initiated by the ASUU and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
But if I am going to get criticized for labour unrest while serving under President Obasanjo – whom I fought bitterly with over his attempts to change the constitution allowing himself a third term – let me take some credit for the one labour dispute I was officially tasked by the President to mediate:
In early July 2003, the NLC was in the midst of bitter, nationwide strike over increased fuel prices. I vividly remember the negotiations we were engaged in with labour leaders one week into the strike. Frustrated and angry with the talks, President Obasanjo stormed out of the meeting. Upon leaving he declared he would no longer mediate and told the labour leaders that from here on they would have to deal with the Vice President.
For the remainder of the day I shouldered the burden of negotiating a resolution to the strike. By evening, both the FG and the NLC reached a consensus and in the wee hours of the morning, President Obasanjo issued a statement announcing the end of the strike.
I never got any credit for helping resolve the 2003 NLC strike, as my job was to serve at the pleasure of the President. But I didn’t need credit as the priority was ending the strike.
Would I love to go back in time and have the presidential authority to mediate and solve all of Nigeria’s labour unrest during that time period? Yes. But I can’t.
But I do know this: Strikes, while a constitutionally granted right, always have winners and losers. And today, the ones losing out are our students. The Federal Government always has a choice: They can negotiate in good faith and reach compromise and consensus, or let strikes fester and do harm.
I can’t change the past when I served under President Obasanjo. But collectively, we can change the future.
That’s why I am calling on the Federal Government and the ASUU to work together to end this strike. If you agree with me, then join me in signing our petition.
And if you are angry with me over strikes dating back to the Obasanjo administration that is certainly your right. But that does not change the fact that today our students are on the losing end of the ASUU strike. It is time we demand its end.
we are totally with you on this sir…#ENDASUUSTRIKENOW
pls call off the strike we are tired of staying at home.we make sure jonathan losses 2015 election
We are totally in support of you Baba Atiku.
Nice 1 sir, we realy suport u sir … Baba ATIKU.
But sir,hw can we end d strk,wen dis current govt is. Not ready to help d student an education sector?
Why is it that politician are the greatest liars on earth? During your tenure, don’t you know what ASUU are demanding? Why don’t you convince your boss to look and solve the matter at once, you speak as if u were not in the office recently
Thank God its not LAWYERS anymore.lol
whose tenure? Turaki’s or Obj’s?
Go ahead baba
sir we agree with u but d gov is nt ready to end d strike
U said dat u bought a house for ur mother at d age of 14 nd u are also an orphan whc one are we to believe?
I appreciate your contributions not only on this issue, but we all know the truth. You are too much.
ASUU strike, the BANE of it all is corruption…the fault is not on JONATHAN alone but those greedy and inconsiderate [email protected] there’s no need to justify yourself because we all have our facts…this is for us the students,forget about OBJ
May God Help you sir..#NIGERIAMUSTCHANGE
two wrong can never make a right u are
two wrong can never make a right u are right in dis one so go ahead u have d support of all nigerian student
Sir,
We came, we have see but to concour is the problem. Even our students today are widely involved in politics that they see no more future in education. Thanks to you for your schorlarship programmes from the Academy to the university, Nigerians and Adamawa people are greatful to you.
Once again out of office you’re serving the country like you’re still a public office holder though some ungreatful Nigerians still think you’re doing all these to give your presidential campaigne a credit, but we know even if our present public office holders will do the same, we will call for the amendment of constitution for them to serve even beyond third term.
ASUU is not an issue to our prosent administration but post 2015 global development agenda, which means if students wants to go back to school, they wait after 2015. But we know who deem fit to rule us beyond 2015 and we will exercise our fundamental human rights and vote for you into office to achieve a dream Nigeria.
Now its BaBa Atiku’s turn let see hw it works,I gladly suport d motion bt I jus hope both union shuld undastnd
we would all stands to our right as a nigerian with our support to his excellency.
Let ASUU strike be ended.
Salam sir, we agree with u and support ur moves, we pray they listen to ur observations, this not time for apportioning blames, it’s all about how to move forward ,thanks.
Sir,I’m convince with your courage in solving this ASUU inpasse in our nation educational sector.As a true statement in our country you can talk to both FG and ASUU to end this strike for the progress of our eduacational sector.While praying to Almighty Allah to continue helping you in your future endevour ameen.
read more what color is valium 10mg