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 said 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.
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.