Lagos – 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.
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,”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/09/strike-will-improve-education-sector-ASUU/