‘Help me beg ASUU to call of strike’ – Buhari tells Nigerians

President Muhammadu Buhari Monday in Daura, Katsina State, begged members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off their prolonged strike.

Buhari said the hiatus will have generational consequences on families, the educational system and future development of the country.

The President, who received some governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), legislators and political leaders at his residence on Sallah homage, said the strike had already taken a toll on the psychology of parents, students and other stakeholders, throwing up many moral issues that already beg for attention.

President Buhari in a statement by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, noted that the future of the country rests on the quality of educational institutions and education, while assuring that the government understands their position, and negotiations should continue, with students in lecture halls.

“We hope that ASUU will sympathise with the people on the prolonged strike. Truly, enough is enough for keeping students at home. Don’t hurt the next generation for goodness sake,” he said.

The President called on all well meaning Nigerians, particularly those close to the leaders and members of the association, to intervene in persuading the lecturers to reconsider their position, and the ripple effect on an entire generation and the nation.

“Colonial type education was geared towards producing workers in government. Those jobs are no longer there. Our young people should get education to prepare them for self-employment. Now education is for the sake of education.

“Through technology we are much more efficient. We should encourage our children to get education, not only to look for government jobs,” he added.