The house of representatives has invited the Ministers of Finance, Education, and the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities to address the issues surrounding the intended strike action threatened by the Academic Union.
This was the position of the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila following a motion under matters of urgent National Importance moved by the Chairman house committee on Basic education, professor Julius Ihonvbere at plenary.
The lawmaker stated that ASUU President has recently threatened to call out his members across the nation, if all the issues, including those of unpaid academically earned allowances and the universities revitalization fund, are not addressed within a period of 3weeks.
He said the future of Nigerian Students once again will be negatively impacted if the impending strike is not nipped in the bud by the Federal Government.
According to him, incessant strikes disrupt the academic calendar and contribute significantly to the poor quality of graduates in the country. The situation has far-reaching implications for national development, he said.
Professor Ihonvbere noted that strikes encourage brain drain, migration of students abroad, and low world rankings of the nation’s academic institutions.
Adopting the motion, the house urged the Federal Government to urgently take all necessary measures to open a realistic negotiation with ASUU to stop the strike and implement the signed agreement in the interest of the Country.
Reporting by Ibrahim Shehu; editing by Tina Oyinsan