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The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, stated that he had endured a period of personal anguish and inner turmoil as a result of the Academic Staff Union of Universities’ prolonged strike (ASUU).
Adamu disclosed this on Tuesday during a closed-door meeting with federal university vice-chancellors and pro-chancellors at the National Universities Commission (NUC) in Abuja.
He stated, “The past two weeks have been a period of intense personal anguish and inner turmoil for me. I used to delude myself into believing that, in an atmosphere of transparency and mutual goodwill, it would be my responsibility to put an end to the constant strikes in the education sector.
“This has proven to be impossible, or at least not as simple, quick, and straightforward as I once believed.”
“Distinguished Chairmen, Vice-Chancellors,” I called you today not to express my distress but to inform you of what we have accomplished and what remains to be done. Undeniably, a great deal remains to be done. However, the current positions of the government and ASUU regarding the future of negotiations appear to have converged for very different reasons.
“This is the position I would have desired us to reach following an amicable resolution of all the issues contained in the 2009 Agreements,” the speaker said. It appears that we are rushing through the negotiations for the wrong reasons. According to reports, the President of ASUU stated that the union would no longer negotiate with the current federal government.
This viewpoint must be resisted. The government and ASUU have no choice but to continue to negotiate until our universities reopen their doors to students, who are clearly the primary victims of the seemingly endless strikes.
“Under the circumstances, therefore, all university councils and senates are required to assume their responsibilities.”
Together, we must continue to restore our public universities to their 1960s and 1970s status. Pro-Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors, as the most important officers in our university system, must demonstrate a greater commitment to ending the ongoing strike.
“As Chairmen of Councils and Senates—the highest policy and academic bodies in the system—you must consider it your utmost responsibility to promote policies and actions that deter industrial disputes on our campuses. The government will continue to support the academic and physical growth of its universities. “
“The government will continue to reasonably improve the working conditions of all academic and non-teaching university personnel.”
As you are well aware, the greatest obstacle is the diminishing resources available to address all citizen concerns. We appreciate your support, patience, and sacrifices. “
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