By Correspondent in Katsina.
The president, Muhammadu Buhari, has urged the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities ,ASUU, lecturers to be mindful of the hurt the strike would cause the next generation in the country.
Buhari also advised them to sympathise with the people on the prolonged strike,saying that “enough is enough” for keeping students at home.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu on Monday.
Shehu qouted the president as giving the advice in Daura while receiving some governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), legislators and political leaders at his residence in Daura, Katsina State,
Buhari,who denied ASUU’s allegation that his administration was adamant over the lingering strike, called on them to reconsider their stand on the lingering development.
According to him, the strike would have generational consequences on families, the educational system and future development of the country.
The President also expressed worry that the strike had taken toll on the psychology of parents, students and other stakeholders, thus throwing up many moral issues that begge for attention.
He reminded the lecturers that the future of the country rests on the quality of educational institutions and education, assuring that his governnent understands their position, adding that negotiations should continue with students in lecture halls.
“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 said.
The president noted that students from Nigerian universities would be faced with the challenge of competing with others in a highly connected and technology-driven work space, if the strike continues
According to him, keeping the students at home only deprives them of time, skill and opportunities to be relevant on the global stage.
Our Correspondent recalls that the lecturers began their strike more than 120 days ago.
The Reporters gathered that striking lecturers’ demands include:funding for the revitalization of public universities, Earned Academic Allowances, University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) and promotion arrears among others.
However ,credible sources close ASUU indicate that the lecturers are willing to suspend the strike but insisting that the Federal Government must begin to fulfil their demands.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
