ASUU strike: Our children’s education is at stake – Elders beg lecturers, FG

A group, under the aegis of the Patriotic Elders of Nigeria, has asked both Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to ensure amicable resolution of the ongoing dispute between them to save the university education from total collapse.

The group’s President, Dr. Bature AbdulAziz, made the call while speaking with newsmen in Kano on Tuesday.

AbdulAziz said, “The Ministers of Education, Finance and other stakeholders should reach a common ground that will lead to the immediate calling off of the ongoing strike to allow students return to school for academic activities to continue.

“In the ongoing discussions, the Federal Government should release part of the requested funds to ASUU while the union should accept whatever comes to them.

“We are reminding the Federal Government what they are already aware of on the vitality of our children’s education. Today, it takes six to seven years for students in Nigerian public universities to complete their degree programmes.

“Our children are threatened by the extension of their education period, hence the reason some travel overseas to acquire education in places with lower education standards than their own country.”

Bature also appealed to ASUU to reconsider its requests and demands by bearing in mind that the country is currently facing financial problems than ever before, and should not be inclined to exhibit its past negative behaviours of insisting on strike for up to two-digit period of months.

“Our children’s education is at stake and we appeal to ASUU’s decision makers to duly consider the future of these children.

“We are calling on both parties to consider our children’s education by not letting the education of the common man decline while their children are attending expensive private schools within and outside the country,” he added.