The leadership of the House of Representatives, has taken a step towards ending the lingering rift between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The resolve by the Green Chamber to seek a lasting solution that would prevent subsequent strike actions by ASUU followed a motion sponsored by Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan, the lawmaker representing Badagry Federal Constituency.
Recall that ASUU had recently announced its plan to embark on a two-week warning strike pending the Federal Government’s resolve to meet the demands listed in its agreement with the union.
The FG in response to ASUU’s warning announced a “no work, no pay” policy while admonishing lecturers to return to classrooms.
However, Whingan, in his motion called on both the FG and ASUU to embrace dialogue and prioritise the interests of students whom he said are at the receiving end of this crisis.
Reacting to the motion, the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas said he would be leading an ad-hoc committee that would function as a mediator between the FG and the union.
In addition, the lawmakers called for the establishment of a sustainable joint consultative platform which would be recognised by both parties for future engagements and communication.
According to Whingan, the push for this motion stems from the recent declaration of a two-week warning strike by ASUU over some of the demands yet to be met by the FG.
The lawmaker said that this warning strike among other industrial actions previously taken by the academic staff unions has continued to impede the lives of students across government-owned tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Also stating that the university system is the bedrock of Nigeria’s development, the lawmaker said the strike actions have done nothing good for the education system in Nigeria but rather derailed several research works and heightened frustration among students, parents, and lecturers.
He stated the incessant strike actions in Nigeria’s institutions have also contributed to brain drain, an increased number of student dropouts while reducing the confidence anyone has in the nation’s academic system.
He further urged the government and the union to embrace dialogue anchored on transparency and mutual respect for all parties to bring a lasting solution to the challenge.