By Fatima Mukhtar | AbC News
The House of Representatives has waded into the ongoing dispute between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in a bid to prevent a total shutdown of Nigeria’s public universities.
This follows the two-week warning strike declared by ASUU over alleged government neglect, unpaid salary arrears, and non-implementation of the 2009 renegotiated agreement.
During Tuesday’s plenary, lawmaker Hon. Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan (APC, Badagry Federal Constituency) moved a motion calling on both parties to return to the negotiation table to resolve their differences amicably.
In response, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, announced plans to set up an adhoc committee to mediate between ASUU and the Federal Government. He emphasized that the House will work to ensure a sustainable solution that will protect the interest of students and stabilize the university system.
Abbas urged both sides to show restraint and commitment to national interest, warning that further strikes would deepen the crisis in tertiary education and harm students who have already suffered prolonged academic disruptions in the past years.
Lawmakers also proposed the creation of a permanent consultative platform between the government and academic unions to help forestall future conflicts.
ASUU’s leadership has maintained that the strike action is a last resort after repeated attempts to engage the government failed to yield concrete commitments.
About The Author
