By Mohammed Oluwatimileyin Taoheed
President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the striking federal lecturers under the umbrella of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to re-strategise their take on the unceasing strike action.
He added that the worry that the academic cesspool will have generational consequences on families, the educational system and future development of the country.
Buhari made the appeal on Monday in Daura, Katsina, when he received some governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), legislators and political chieftains at his residence.
As seen in a statement issued and signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President noted the strike had already taken a toll on the psychology of parents, students and other stakeholders, throwing up many moral issues that call for urgent interventions.
While assuring that the government fathoms their reasons and that negotiations should continue with students in lecture halls, he gave it that the posterity of the country banks on the effectiveness of educational institutions.
“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 maintained.
Buhari urged all well meaning Nigerians, especially those who are near to the leaders and members of the association, to come into the chase in persuading the lecturers to reconsider their position, and the ripple effect on the whole generation and the entire country.
In his words, students from Nigerian universities will be faced with the loopholes of competing with others in a highly connected and technology-oriented work space, and keeping them at home only deprive them of time, skill and opportunities to be vital on the global space.
“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.
Buhari added that resources should be channeled more into edificing amenities and operations of the health and educational sector, not to extend the bureaucracy to create job opportunities.
“By this time next year, I would have made the most out of the two terms, and the remaining months I will do my best,” the President noted.
“If you are greedy, you won’t look around to see what is happening with those who are less endowed.”
