ASUU: Strike Will Improve Education Sector

The President, Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU), Dr Nasir Fagge, said on Tuesday that the
current strike by lecturers of public universities in the
country was a sacrifice for better things to come.
Fagge told Journalists in Lagos that unless the
deficits in the education sector, especially the
university system, were addressed once and for all,
there would be no development.
Lecturers, under the aegis of ASUU, had on June 30
embarked on what it had described as
comprehensive, total and indefinite strike in public
universities across the country.
The lecturers are asking for the implementation of
some aspects of an agreement they jointly entered
into with the Federal government in 2009.
According to Fagge, it is regrettable that the strike is
protracted, and that the decision of ASUU to remain
adamant until its demands are fully met can seem
uncomfortable and worrisome.
Fagge
He said that the industrial action was a sacrifice
needed to salvage the entire economy of the country.
“I sincerely want to call on all concerned, especially
students and parents, to bear with us, as well as join
hands with us in the struggle to right the wrongs in
our education sector once and for all, for the good of
us all and that of the country.
“I know it is quite a difficult time for us but I also
want to state that what we are doing is for our own
good, as well as ensure that strikes become rare, as a
weapon to get things done in our system.
“We also want to ensure that there is sincerity and
respect for mutual agreements by parties in order to
attain a common goal for the good of our dear
country,” he said.
Fagge, however, lauded the supervising education
Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, for finding time to meet
with the Executive Committee of ASUU, in a bid to find
a lasting solution to the protracted strike.
The unionist also commended the Committee of Vice-
Chancellors and other stakeholders for their concern
in attempts to end the strike.
He noted that such was the spirit needed to ensure
that nobody felt cheated and that what the lecturers
were asking for was truly for the advancement of the
course of the country.
According to Fagge, with the current attempts by the
various stakeholders, he is optimistic that there will
soon be a mutual understanding between the parties.
“I think with the various meetings we have held with
the concerned stakeholders, I am optimistic that there
will soon be a way out and our demands met, so that
in the shortest possible time, we will get the required
development that will make us compete favourably
within the comity of nations.
“For us in the academic communities, we strongly
wish government should look into the deficit of
insincerity in our system, teaching facilities, in order
for us to be able to deliver on our mandate.
“Majority of our children and wards in this country do
attend these public universities and we cannot afford
to fold our hands and watch them study under
deplorable conditions, while those who can afford
sending their children abroad feel little or no concern
about it,” he said.
On the appointment of ministers to replace the
recently sacked ones, Fagge suggested that it should
be hinged strictly on the basis of merit.
“We need people who will come in with confidence of
the power that be in terms of tackling challenges; be
up and doing and would always want to come up with
new approaches to addressing problems,” he said.
[NAN]