PENSIONER, 71, SUES ASUU OVER STRIKE

A 71-year-old pensioner in Kano State, Mallam Dankano Garba Ahmed, has dragged the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) and eight others to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria over the ongoing strike embarked upon by the union.

The pensioner in suit number NICN/KN/161/2013 said the strike is affecting the education of his daughter who is a 400 level Civil Engineering student at the Bayero University Kano. 
In the affidavit in support of the originating summon, the pensioner accused the union of frustrating his efforts to get his daughter, Zainab Garba Ahmed, out of school within the stipulated time. 

“The strike by the union is making my daughter who is the second plaintiff, idle, disorganised and psychologically disturbed. Being a 71- year-old man who earns less than N30,000 as pension, the strike of the union irritates me,” he said. 
He added, “I have other children who I wish to sponsor, but that is subject to the successful graduation of this my daughter. Her future and that of thousand others across the country are being stagnated strategically by the ongoing strike”.

The pensioner is asking the court to determine whether the agreement dated 21 October 2009, entered between ASUU and the Federal Government is valid, binding, and not illegal having regards to the provision of Section 3(1) (d) of the BUK Act as well as other statutes establishing the universities owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“If the answer to the issue is in the negative, the court should also determine whether ASUU has a right to embark on strike for failure/ or refusal of the Federal Government to implement the said agreement,” part of the affidavit read. 

MY TAKE

As much as I empathize with ASUU, I also want to plead with them to please go back to the class rooms, if nothing else, at least for the sake of our kids who are lazing around doing nothing. Sadly by the time the school opens one or two of them won’t be able to go back because they may have passed on for reason of staying at home and getting involved in mischief acts. (a sad truth). Parents please put your eyes on your wards.

This father at 71-years would want to see his daughter graduate and possible other of his children enter the university and like he said, the entry of the others is predicated on her finishing on time which is now looking unlikely.

It’s these kinds of strikes that made someone dear to me do a 4 years course in 7 years. Unbelievable, this can never happen in the private universities. This is why we need private schools, sadly they are very expensive. If our public schools are effectively managed, there would be no need for private schools. 

Only Igbinedion had a private University when I was in school, today, it’s everywhere.

ASUU please, the Federal Government has already shown a hand of faith and willingness to work out the situation with you, now respond with your own kind gesture and return to the classes, like I said, if not for anything else, for the sake of the students you so much care about. (if you really do care)

Soon even parents and those on your side would begin to see you as part of the problem, now that the momentum is on your side, do the more honourable thing, please.