Reconsider Your stance, Call off The Strike, President Buhari Appeals To ASUU, Other Unions
By Madu Mohammed, Maiduguri
President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions within the universities to reconsider their stance and call off the over five months strike, so as to allow students go back to class.
President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari made the appeal while speaking at a Special Convocation ceremony organised to confer Honorary Doctorate Degree on a business mogul, Alhaji Muhammed Indimi, by the University of Maiduguri, which head at the Muhammed Indimi Centre of the University on Friday
” I want to use this opportunity to appeal the ASUU to reconsider it stance to call off their strike, as students and their parents are desirous to see that schools are reopened. The nation cannot afford long interruption of higher education of the youths and wouldn’t undermine the development of the nation’s human capital in a strictly competitive world,” the President stressed.
He further pointed out that the appeal was made in view of students desire to return to the classroom with their parents seeking for reopening of the shut down Universities.
President Buhari added that despite the security challenges his administration has made tremendous achievements in the area of security, as evidence by the occasion holding in Maiduguri, stressing that since the inception in 1999 many administrations have been talking about diversification of economy but only this administration implemented it..
Also speaking, the Pro-chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the University, Ballama Manu said
Dr. (Alhaji) Muhammed Indimi, the Chairman of Oriental Energy
Resources Limited committed his resources and built the International Learning Centre,a befitting structure with state-of-the-art facilities and a conference Centre for the University of Maiduguri hence the reason for conferment of the honorary degree.
This is an exemplary, and worthy of emulation by all people of means and goodwill. I wish to personally extend my appreciations to Dr. Alhaji Muhammed Indimi for this gesture and belief in the University of Maiduguri. I pray to Allah (SWA) to continue to bless him, replenish his resources and continue to make more contributions for the benefit of humanity. Please Sir, accept my congratulations!,” Manu added.
In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, Prof Aliyu Shugaba said also appealed to the striking ASUU and other unions to call off the five months strike .
” I am using this opportunity to appeal to the striking ASUU and other Unions within the university system to call off the strike. I also want to call on well meaning Nigerians to intervene to enable students go back to school “, the VC appealed.
In his remarks, the Honoree, Alhaji Muhammed Indiimi thanked the University for the honour stressing that the Honorary degree will spur him to do more
President Muhammadu Buhari represented by his Chief of Staff, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, first Lady, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, Vice Presidential candidate of APC, Senator Kashim Shettima, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubajar Ibn Alanin Elkanemi, other emirs, Vice Chancellors among other dignitaries were in attendance.
