Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is intervening in the lingering face off between the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) which had led to an unending strike, now a thorn in the flesh of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Asiwaju Tinubu says President Muhammadu Buhari’s open lamenting of the Academic Staff Union of Universities’ continuing strike has “opened doors” for him to act swiftly.
Asiwaju Tinubu who made his intention known while meeting with members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in Osogbo, the capital of Osun state assured that the lingering ASUU strike would be called off shortly and advised university students to prepare for their return to class.
“We had planned to approach the ASUU leaders through back channels, but President Buhari has now put down the gauntlet.” He has even expressed his regret in the previous 48 hours, leaving the position open for our intervention,” the APC presidential flagbearer stated.
During the Sallah vacations, Mr. Buhari remarked in a statement published by his media assistant Garba Shehu, “Truly, enough is enough for keeping pupils at home.”
However, ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke retorted to the president’s remark, requesting that he act on the findings of the committee he appointed to engage with them. Mr. Osodeke insisted that the extended strike was the fault of the Buhari administration.
On Monday, February 14, 2022, ASUU went on strike in response to the government’s apparent inability to address its outstanding demands.
Their demands include the release of university revitalization funding; the revision of the ASUU-FGN 2009 agreement; and the implementation of the University Transparency Accountability System for the payment of academics’ wages and allowances.
The lecturers at state schools are also requesting the dissemination of the white paper report of the visitation panels to their respective institutions, among other things.
