ASUU says 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 the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) 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.
NAN reports that the 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.
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)