Nwajiuba apologizes for ASUU strike, suggesting that strikes can’t cure the problem.
Former Minister of State for Education Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba has apologized to Nigerian students for the Academic Staff Union of Universities' (ASUU) long-running strike.
The union just prolonged the strike for another 12 weeks, citing concerned officials' lack of preparation to handle the problem.
In response to the problem, the APC presidential candidate said that all of his children attended public universities and that two of them are also affected by the strike.
The former minister was interviewed on Channels Television's Politics Today show.
Nwajiuba acknowledged that he bears some responsibility for the issue, but added that strikes are not the best way for ASUU to resolve its grievances.
He said:
“I do apologise to Nigerian students because as their minister, I will take responsibility. But also, on behalf of the federal government, I would say ‘please understand what the issues are’.
“All my four children have passed through Nigerian universities. I still have two who are at home now, because they are all in public universities.”
Nwajiuba said he is also a product of public universities, hence, he empathizes with ASUU.
He further said: “My position has not been that ASUU is talking rubbish. ASUU has a case, they are not making a case for themselves alone. ASUU is making a case for the entire university system.“
“The only point of departure is that we have asked ASUU that strikes can’t cure the problem.
“We need them in class, we need our children back in school. It hurts parents. It hurts us. Like I keep saying, my children are here, I don’t have children in private universities. My wife and them are battling it at home.”
Nwajiuba also appealed to ASUU to “consider leaving the option of strike and work with the government”, adding that the issues cannot be solved “at once”.
“This government has done more than any other government to meet ASUU. We are going to resolve the issue. All the matrixes for it to be resolved are already before Mr President,” he added.
Source: Vanguard News
