Gov Emmanuel Urges FG, ASUU To Avert Disaster, End On-going Strike Action

UYO

Gov Udom Emmanuel, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has appealed for an end to the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

 He appealed to both the federal government and ASUU to end the on-going strike action and re-open the universities.

 In a statement issued on his behalf by the spokesperson of the Udom Emmanuel Presidential Council, Mr. Bola Bolawole, hesaid the time had come for both the government and ASUU to avert a disaster that may strike the country’s educational system as a whole if the ASUU strike is not quickly called off.

 He said, “The discussions are already going on in some foreign countries where our people, especially our youths, run for greener pastures, to withdraw their recognition of university certificates from Nigeria. God forbid that this should happen! The all-round effects on our people are better imagined than felt.

 “According to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria’s Diaspora remittances inflow for the first nine months of 2021 rose to $14.2 billion, up 10 percent Year-on-Year from $12.9 billion in the corresponding period of 2020 and beating the World Bank quarter-on-quarter projections for the same period.

 “This is second only to foreign exchange earned from the oil sector. Nothing must be done to adversely affect its growth in the short and long-term. If university certificates from Nigeria are no longer recognised, how can our people flooding into countries abroad for further studies and job opportunities fulfil their dreams?

 “How can the Nigerian government benefit from the bounteous energies of the Nigerian people in Diaspora noted all over the world for their resilience, industry, and capacity to excel and hold their own against the world’s best?

 “What will be the rationale for the continued maintenance and relevance of ASUU and its members if the students they claim to teach and train are seen and treated as half-baked by their counterparts in other parts of the world?”