ASUU strike: Things have not been easy for me, says education minister
Nigeria’s minister of education, Adamu Adamu, has said things have not been easy for him as a result of the protracted strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Academic activities have been grounded for 204 days, with students left to wander around without a clue as to when they will return to class.
Countless meetings have been held between the federal government and ASUU but no resolution has been reached.
Adamu on Tuesday met with vice-chancellors and pro-chancellors of federal universities to discuss about possible ways to end the seven month old strike.
Speaking at the meeting, the minister said the indefinite strike is a source of “anguish and internal turmoil” to him.
According to NAN, Adamu said he hopes the parties can reach an amicable resolution of all the issues, adding that the past few weeks have “been a very dark period in the education sector”.
“I used to think in a climate of frankness, and with mutual goodwill, an end or solution would have been found to incessant strikes in the education sector,” he said.
“This has not been possible or, at least, not as easy and straightforward, as I used to think.”
The minister also addressed a statement credited to Emmanuel Osodeke, ASUU president, saying the union would no longer negotiate with the current administration on the ongoing strike. Adamu said such a position must be resisted to salvage the country’s educational system.
“Government and ASUU have no option than to continue talking, until our universities are reopened to students who, clearly, are the principal victims of the seemingly unending strike,” he added.
“In these circumstances, therefore, all councils and senates of our universities are enjoined to rise up to their responsibilities.
“We must, together, continue to work to restore our public universities to where they are in the 60s and 70s.
“As the most important officers in our university system, Pro Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors, must demonstrate more commitment to ending the ongoing strike.”
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