ASUU Strike: We Can’t Take It Anymore, Buhari Talks Tough

It is time for university lecturers who have been on strike since February 14 to call it off in the interest of their students and the country, President Muhammadu Buhari admonished yesterday.

The President urged well-meaning leaders in the country to prevail on the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), adding, “enough is enough”.

He warned on the “generational effect” of a prolonged strike.

The President spoke yesterday when he received some governors, lawmakers and other categories of dignitaries who paid him Sallah visit at his private home in Daura, Katsina State.

ASUU called out its members on a one-month strike over the non-implementation of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) it signed with the Federal Government and the insistence of the government on the adoption of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel information system (IPPIS) as payment platform for all federal workers.

The union has proposed the University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) as its preferred platform for the payment of salaries for its members

It declared a two-month strike on March 14. The teachers are on the three-month strike declared by ASUU after the expiration of the two-month warning strike

But speaking yesterday, Buhari emphasized that the hiatus will have generational consequences on families, the educational system and Nigeria’s future development.

According to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President said the strike had already taken a toll on the psychology of parents, students and other stakeholders, throwing up many moral issues that are already begging for attention.

Buhari noted that the future of the country rests on the quality of educational institutions and education, while assuring that the government understands their position, and negotiations should continue, with students in lecture halls.

“We hope that ASUU will sympathise with the people on the prolonged strike. Truly, enough is enough for keeping students at home. Don’t hurt the next generation for goodness sake,” he was quoted as saying.

He called on all well-meaning Nigerians, particularly those close to the leaders and members of the association, to persuade the lecturers to reconsider their position, and the ripple effect on an entire generation and the nation.

The President said students from Nigerian universities will be faced with the challenge of competing with others in a highly connected and technology-driven work space, and keeping them at home only deprives them of time, skill and opportunities to be relevant on the global stage.

The statement reads: “Colonial type education was geared towards producing workers in government. Those jobs are no longer there. Our young people should get education to prepare them for self-employment. Now education is for the sake of education.

“Through technology we are much more efficient. We should encourage our children to get education, not only to look for government jobs,” he added.

President Buhari said resources should be channeled more into building infrastructure and operations of the health and educational sector, not to expand the bureaucracy to create job opportunities.

“By this time next year, I would have made the most out of the two terms, and the remaining months I will do my best.”

The President also urged those in political positions and places of privilege to be mindful in helping their compatriots in search of opportunities.

”If you are greedy, you won’t look around to see what is happening with those who are less endowed,’’ he was quoted as saying.

The President told his guests that he had not been to his house in Daura for close to a year due to the demands of office.

He said: “The observation that I abandoned my base was made by the Emir of Daura, Dr Faruk Umar Faruk, at the Eid Prayer ground. He held the microphone and told everyone that the last time I was in Daura was during the Eid-el-Kabir of 2021.”

President Buhari said he would retire to Daura, not Kaduna, where he had a better house.

“In 10 to 11 months’ time, I will come here. I have a better house in Kaduna, but it is too close to Abuja,’’ he said.

The President explained that the schedule of work was much, saying he recently had to sympathise with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, who had to be away most of the time from his family.

President Buhari urged the APC stalwarts to keep working for the good of the people and the country, noting that “we are a lucky people, and we need to reflect more on where we are coming from.”

The President said relative to the resources available, and compared to the last administration, the government had done well in many areas, particularly in infrastructure.

“I wish the person who is coming after me the very best,” he said.

On security, the President noted that the Northwest had posed more challenges, and some successes had been recorded in other regions, Northeast and Southsouth.

President Buhari advised some indigenes in the South-South to stop hurting national assets, which also affect their livelihood.

“I am eager to go. I can tell you it has been tough. I am grateful to God that people appreciate the personal sacrifices we have been making,” he added.