With few days to the celebration of Nigeria 62nd Independence Anniversary, Senator Solomon Adeola, the Chairman of Senate Committee on Finance, has made a passionate appeal to the leadership and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) to call off their indefinite strike in the spirit of the celebration of Nigeria 62nd independence anniversary.
Speaking with journalists on the anniversary and his views on the protracted strike of ASUU that had seen our public universities under lock for over 8 months, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance stated that in spite of our difficulties, Nigeria still have many things to celebrate as a united nation of 62 years adding that university lecturers should magnanimously use the occasion of the independence celebration to call off their strike while government continue to proffer solution to issues raised by their union.
“On the issue of ASUU strike that has dragged on for so long, I will say it is a very unfortunate situation. I urge ASUU to reconsider their stand. We have seen the efforts of the Government to get ASUU to see reasons as to why a new position to their former position is necessary. We are appealing to ASUU in the spirit of celebration our nation’s 62nd independence to reconsider their stand and go back to work to allow our children go back to classes” he stated.
He opined that ASUU can assist the nation in having a good celebration by calling off the strike so that the students can go back to classes and in no distant future join in nation building efforts.
“Our nation like most nations worldwide is passing through some financially turbulent period. Most of the issues raised by ASUU relate to finance, which my Committee through oversight, has been trying to see how Government can get more revenue from all revenue generating agencies. With improvement in finances, government will address major issues raised by ASUU” he stated.
On an optimistic note, Senator Adeola encouraged students to be prepared to go back to their classes as any moment from now it is hoped that ASUU will change their position to resume lectures while negotiation continues on issues raised.