The presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has described the suspension of the strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as a “relief”.
He said this in a Friday statement he personally signed.
The former Vice President’s statement came after the union’s President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke announced it was suspending the strike, which lingered for eight months.
In a statement, Osodeke said that the union suspended the strike following a series of appeals by Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari, and the intervention of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.
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However, he noted that the issues that compelled ASUU to embark on the strike had not been fully addressed.
Reacting to suspension, Atiku said, “The last eight months have been a wasted period as far as Nigeria’s higher education and the accrual benefits are concerned.
“It is a relief for everyone concerned that the ASUU strike action has been “conditionally” called off. Now is a time for reflection and the charting of a new course that will prioritise education as a critical driver of national growth and development.
“It is not negotiable that requisite investment must be channelled into education. And for the organised teachers, they need to understand and appreciate that the constant disruption to the university calendar is damaging to the spirit of scholarship.
“Even though the strike action has dragged on for too long, I am thankful to ASUU for suspending the strike and urge the federal government to fulfil its terms of the bargain to ensure that students of higher institutions of learning and their parents do not go through this ordeal again.”
The PDP candidate said that if elected president in 2023, he would prioritise reforms and investment in education.
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