ASUU Strike Will Soon Be Called Off – NUC Prof. Julius Okojie

Executive Secretary of the National Universities
Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie, says he is
confident that the lingering strike by the Academic
Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will soon be called
off.
Speaking, Wednesday, in Abuja, at a media parley with
journalists, Okojie said the commission was doing
everything within its powers to ensure a speedy
resolution of the issues raised by ASUU so that students
could return to school.
"We are part of the system and we understand the
issues, we are meeting with members of the union all
the time and the issues are being tackled.
"So, we are optimistic the strike will soon be called off
and our children can go back to school in the shortest
possible time," he said.
In reaction to the call by ASUU for NUC to be
scrapped, Okojie said "the call is not in good faith as
the commission has not gone to sleep over its duties".
Also speaking on the recurrent disagreements between
the commission and some professional bodies over
accreditation and running of certain courses by some
universities, Okojie acknowledged that there were
issues that needed to be resolved between both parties.
"There is no country in the world where regulatory
bodies and professional bodies go to regulate at the
same time.
"So, it is true we are having problems with professional
bodies in carrying out our mandate, but the issues too
will soon be resolved and we can move on.
The executive secretary, who said that the commission
had closed many faculties not fit to run courses in
certain universities, admitted that; "it is not easy to be a
regulator''.
According to him, the commission was "silently
regulating the system'' having to also pay professional
fees and encourage professors to do accreditation.
[NAN]