Jonathan Pleads with ASUU to Call off Strike 20 Oct 2013 As the current strike embarked upon by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) enters its fourth month, President Jonathan has again pleaded with the striking lecturers to call off their action in the interest of the students and parents. President Jonathan stated this Saturday during the inauguration and dedication of the College of Engineering Building at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), as part of activities marking the first convocation ceremony of the institution. He urged the striking lecturers to temper anger with patriotism in the interest of the students who have been at home since the face-off between the teachers and the federal government began about four months ago. Jonathan also expressed the need for the labour union to always consider the plight of other sectors. According to him, if the police, military, health and the paramilitary embarked on strike, the nation would definitely collapse. “If this is to be allowed to happen, we cannot get the Nigeria of our time. “Even, those of us in the presidency as well as other sectors are not really living in the best of time. I believe if the strike is with genuine interest to keep the students at home for four months, the lecturers have already made a point. “For the sake of the students, not for me as a president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, they should resume back to class,” he pleaded. The president further stated that keeping children at home for months without doing any reasonable thing would not be of any benefit to them, adding that what ASUU is demanding would soon be met. According to him, if the federal government is not listening to them at all, it is a different issue, adding that government is listening and promising to come up with something soon. While commending the founder of the institution, Aare Afe Babalola, for the giant stride he had achieved in education within the last three and a half years, Jonathan urged other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate him. Describing the university as one of the best in the country, Jonathan lauded its founder for his contribution to qualitative education in the country. He described ABUAD College of Engineering as a masterpiece and a challenge to individuals, faith-based and non governmental organisations to join hands in building Nigeria that would be a pride of all. The state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and Chief Babalola emphasised the need for government to build an airport to fast-track development in the state. Fayemi appealed to the President to pay a sum of N12 billion being owed the state by federal government on the renovation of roads categorised as federal roads in the state . The governor said the state had only been reimbursed by the federal government to the tune of N2 billion out of the N14 billion that had been expended by State Government for the renovation of dilapidated federal roads in the State. Babalola disclosed that he had invested N60 billion to build ABUAD to a world class university, appealing to the federal government to always spread the hands of fellowship to the private universities to extend quality education to all Nigerian citizens. Also, the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, thanked the president for providing an enabling environment for education to thrive in the country, saying the country now has 50 private universities . Wike added that as part of the efforts to increase access to quality education, President Jonathan had established 12 federal universities since he assumed office. Caption: President Goodluck Jonathan Jonathan Pleads with ASUU to Call off Strike As the current strike embarked upon by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) enters its fourth month, President Jonathan has again pleaded with the striking lecturers to call off their action in the interest of the students and parents. President Jonathan stated this Saturday during the inauguration and dedication of the College of Engineering Building at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), as part of activities marking the first convocation ceremony of the institution. He urged the striking lecturers to temper anger with patriotism in the interest of the students who have been at home since the face-off between the teachers and the federal government began about four months ago. Jonathan also expressed the need for the labour union to always consider the plight of other sectors. According to him, if the police, military, health and the paramilitary embarked on strike, the nation would definitely collapse. “If this is to be allowed to happen, we cannot get the Nigeria of our time. “Even, those of us in the presidency as well as other sectors are not really living in the best of time. I believe if the strike is with genuine interest to keep the students at home for four months, the lecturers have already made a point. “For the sake of the students, not for me as a president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, they should resume back to class,” he pleaded. The president further stated that keeping children at home for months without doing any reasonable thing would not be of any benefit to them, adding that what ASUU is demanding would soon be met. According to him, if the federal government is not listening to them at all, it is a different issue, adding that government is listening and promising to come up with something soon. While commending the founder of the institution, Aare Afe Babalola, for the giant stride he had achieved in education within the last three and a half years, Jonathan urged other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate him. Describing the university as one of the best in the country, Jonathan lauded its founder for his contribution to qualitative education in the country. He described ABUAD College of Engineering as a masterpiece and a challenge to individuals, faith-based and non governmental organisations to join hands in building Nigeria that would be a pride of all. The state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and Chief Babalola emphasised the need for government to build an airport to fast-track development in the state. Fayemi appealed to the President to pay a sum of N12 billion being owed the state by federal government on the renovation of roads categorised as federal roads in the state . The governor said the state had only been reimbursed by the federal government to the tune of N2 billion out of the N14 billion that had been expended by State Government for the renovation of dilapidated federal roads in the State. Babalola disclosed that he had invested N60 billion to build ABUAD to a world class university, appealing to the federal government to always spread the hands of fellowship to the private universities to extend quality education to all Nigerian citizens. Also, the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, thanked the president for providing an enabling environment for education to thrive in the country, saying the country now has 50 private universities . Wike added that as part of the efforts to increase access to quality education, President Jonathan had established 12 federal universities since he assumed office.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 06:39:48 +0000
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