Omotola, Market women, NANS, Sultan begin last-ditch effort to end ASUU Strike

Omotola, Market women, NANS and Nigerian monarchs begin last-ditch effort to end ASUU Strike.

The Emir of Zaria in Kaduna State, Alhaji Shehu Idris, has described the feud between the federal government and ASUU as a huge setback to education, national growth and development.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called on striking workers, particularly, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, to call off their strike and embrace dialogue.

Award winning Nigerian actress and United Nations World Food Programme Ambassador, Omotola Ekeinde, wrote, “Education is a right, not a privilege. This should be the first responsibility of every parent, state and country to their child. Why are students of the most populous black nation in the world, ‘Giant of Africa,’ not in school?

“Where are all the educational funds? Why is there a crippling silence when Nigerian schools have been shut for almost four months and the youths are wasting away with their future uncertain? Barka de Sallah. As we pray, eat and relax on the occasion of this holiday, our youths should spare sometime to think. Youths, your destiny is in your hand.”

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has vehemently opposed the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

The National President of the Union, Yinka Gbadebo, had during the press briefing appealed to the striking lecturers to suspend the ongoing strike.

“In the history of ASUU strike, no government has ever responded positively the way President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has done, and I believe strongly this gesture should be reciprocated for the sake of harmony.”

Mr. Gbadebo in company of representatives of student leaders from more than 40 universities from across the country blamed the leadership of ASUU for boycotting a meeting earlier scheduled with the student body(NANS), saying that the meeting would have played a major role towards resolving the ongoing face-off.

“In as much as we sympathise with ASUU over the predicament that resulted into the industrial action, millions of Nigerian students are simply tired of staying at home, hence we appeal that the strike be called off, and negotiations resume immediately,” he affirmed

HUNDREDS of market women under the aegis of the Market Women Association of Nigeria (MWA) yesterday staged a peaceful protest in Abuja, expressing concern over the strike action embarked upon by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Market women leader, Mrs. Felicia Sani urged ASUU to sort the agreement they have with the Federal Government.

She said: “We are here to tell you we have done our investigation and seen that we can no longer keep our children in the house. What ASUU is looking for is for us to cut our heads and give them.”