President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to reconsider its position as the ongoing strike action continues to affect an entire generation and the nation.
This was disclosed in a statement by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, when he received some governors, legislators and political leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at his residence in Daura, Katsina State on Monday.
He also urged agitators in the South-South to stop vandalising national assets, an action which, he said, also affected their livelihoods, according to NAN.
What the President is saying
Buhari said the strike had already taken a toll on the psychology of parents, students and other stakeholders, throwing up many moral issues begging for attention,
Citing that the FG respect the union’s position, Buhari said, “We hope that ASUU will sympathise with the people on the prolonged strike. Truly, enough is enough for keeping students at home. Don’t hurt the next generation for goodness sake.”
He called on ASUU leaders and members to persuade the lecturers to reconsider their position and its effect on an entire generation and the nation.
“Nigerian students will be faced with the challenge of competing with others in a technology-driven workspace,” he said, adding that keeping them at home, only deprives them of time, skill and opportunities to be relevant on the global stage.
“Colonial type education was geared towards producing workers in government. Those jobs are no longer there.
“Our young people should get education to prepare them for self-employment. Now education is for the sake of education.
“Through technology, we are much more efficient. We should encourage our children to get education not only to look for government jobs,’’ he stressed.
On infrastructure, he urged that resources should be channelled more into building infrastructure and operations of the health and educational sectors, not to expand the bureaucracy to create job opportunities.
On security, the president said the Northwest had posed more challenges, while some success had been recorded in other regions such as the Northeast and South-South.
Buhari also admonished agitators in the South-South to stop vandalising national assets, an action which, he said, also affected their livelihoods.
In case you missed it
- ASUU and other unions in public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, have been on industrial action for more than six months over the alleged failure of the Federal Government to meet their demands.
- The unions are demanding funding of the revitalisation fund, earned allowances, implementation of the University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) scheme, as well as promotion arrears.
- Nairametrics reported last week that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), says it is ready to end the nationwide strike immediately if the Federal Government agrees to sign the negotiated agreement to invest in university infrastructure and agree to pay salaries through the recommended University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).
- Nairametrics reported recently that Nigerian health workers announced a threat to go on a solidarity strike in support of the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Oh You the God of mercy! See what our patriotic past leaders promised to ensure its stainability,capability,quality, standisation and vitality to the citizens of the land in general, but our presents leaders have now brought out their mischief in all those considetrate articles. Oh you the Creator of all! May you have mercy on us and brings out the way to end this nation wide strike completely. Amen!