TUC tells FG to end ASUU strike

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Friday called on the Federal Government to take measures to end the four-month-old strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
This call is contained in a statement signed by Mr Musa Lawal, the Secretary General of the union, in Abuja.
ASUU had embarked on strike to protest against the non-implementation of 2009 agreement
reached between the union and the Federal Government.
The TUC said the union was disturbed that in spite of protests and appeals by parents, students, market women and others, government had not shown concerned about plight of the students.
“TUC is again appealing to government to address this critical issue that bothers on our collective future as a nation.

“It is high time our governments at all levels embrace the culture of respecting and adhering to agreements.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that ASUU’s strike has been allowed to drag on for too long, and the consequences are incalculable.

“We insist that it now behooves on government to move and decisively address the issues at stake,’’ the statement said.
According to the statement, any nation that abandons its youth developmental and educational system inadvertently abandons its tomorrow.
“We shall not fold our arms and allow the nation’s educational system to collapse.’’
It said the situation was worrisome, noting that Nigeria, arguably the richest country in Africa and sixth largest producer of crude oil in the world, seemingly could not guarantee education for its citizenry.
The statement added that government must not allow the situation deteriorate further, and urged government to “save our students and their education from further trauma.
“The congress also urges the National Assembly, past and present leaders of the country and other well-meaning Nigerians to wade into the crisis to save the sector from total collapse.’’ (NAN)