FG-ASUU Crisis: There’s Need To Use Vibrant Industrial Relations Machinery - Aremu

…As NLC Helmsman Advocates Plea-Bargain Between Two Parties

As part of measures to check the recurring strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) occasioned by the refusal of the Federal Government to obey the agreement with the union, General secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NVTGTWN) and vice president of the Industrial All Global Union, Dr Issa Aremu, has called for the need to put vibrant industrial relations machinery in place.

Aremu made the call during the memorial event and unveiling of the book, titled: “Major-General Henry Edmund Olufemi Adefope: A Legacy of Honour,” in Lagos on Thursday.

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Aremu, who charged the two parties involved in the academic crisis to use the machinery, which is in line with the vision of the industrial relations administration of General Muritala Muhammed, ably championed by Major General Henry Edmund Olufemi Adefope, lamented that this machinery is currently missing in the education sector today.

At the event, which was put together by Adefope’s family members, to celebrate the life and times of the major general, the Labour helmsman advocated for plea-bargain to solve the lingering FG-ASUU strikes.

He recalled that during the crisis in the textile union with the government, the collective plea bargain process was used to save the situation.

Berating the Federal Government for its inability to meet the lecturers’ demands, Aremu said: “We go into a collective agreement, the government signs agreement under pressure and refuses to obey it.”

Also, Aremu lamented that “In turn, ASUU replies in its own way with its endless strikes,” adding that “From 1999 till date, Nigerian universities have been shut down for five times. Almost every five years, we have strikes.”

Lamenting that this has a lot of implications on the students, the academic community, as well as the nation, Aremu stated: “Government officials must obey collective agreement as contained in the nation’s labour laws. Don’t go into an agreement that you cannot enforce. You need to look at the agreements very well.”

ASSU, the NLC boss advised: “Must know that there is a limit to using the same weapon all the times, such as strikes. It is the students that mostly suffer when the lecturers go on strikes. They bear the brunt, especially children of the poor.

He called for a return to the era of selfless government, which produced a great man like Adefope, and the likes of Olusegun Obasanjo, Muritala Muhammed, among others.