/ 5 December 2001

OBASANJO CRACKS THE WHIP AGAIN

NIGERIAN President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday blasted university teachers as lazy, saying they never do a full day’s work, as lecturers went on strike for more pay. Visiting the Nigerian Law School in Abuja, the angry president praised the centre’s students and lecturers for ignoring a strike call by the university teachers union, known as ASSU. Saying they were badly paid and motivated, ASSU called all university lecturers out on strike on Monday to demand a pay rise and payment of arrears, promised after a previous stoppage. But Obasanjo appeared little inclined to agree to their demands. “I am happy to hear that the staff and students at the Nigerian Law School are not behaving like those of the ASSU – that is the Nigerian university lecturer for you,” he said. “I will lead them to the bar of the lawyers,” he added. “I know they don’t do a full day’s job for a full day’s pay. By 12:00 noon, they are in the staff club. What are they doing?” the president asked. “We will fight them and God will fight them,” he declared. – AFP