Buhari said negotiations had gone far, and for ASUU to continue the strike under such condition was counter-productive.
By Jeffrey Agbo
President Muhammadu Buhari has again asked the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its six-month-old strike.
Buhari made the call on Friday in Maiduguri at the maiden Special Convocation Ceremony and conferment of Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters by the University of Maiduguri on Muhammadu Indimi, Chairman, Oriental Energy Resources Ltd.
The President was represented by his Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari.
Buhari said, “It’s more appropriate that we say something about this ASUU strike because we are celebrating Alhaji Indimi who is celebrated hugely for advancement of quality education not only in this country.
“In this regard, I want to convey President Muhammadu Buhari call for ASUU to call off thier strike and return to classroom.”
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Buhari said negotiations had gone far, and for ASUU to continue the strike under such condition was counter-productive.
Accorcing to him, such prolong interruption of education is undermining the nation’s development of human capital.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Aliyu Shugaba said the maiden special convocation was to give honour to Indimi for his contribution to educational development at home and abroad.
He urged the Federal Government, ASUU and other unions in the university to resolve the lingering strike to save the education sector.
Also, former President Olusegun Obasanjo lauded the peaceful atmosphere in Maiduguri, adding that, “what I saw is contrary to the picture being painted outside.”
Obasanjo lauded the effort of Borno government and other stakeholders for the relative peace in the state and urged them to sustain the tempo.
He congratulated Indimi for the honour bestowed on him, describing him as “a self made man as shown by his struggled to greatness in life”.
For his part, Indimi expressed gratitude to God for the honour done to him and reiterated commitment to selfless service to humanity.
