The Federal Lawmaker representing Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State in the House of Representative Abuja Chief Edwin Anayo Nwonu, has made a passionate appeal to both the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to adopt positive compromise in resolving the dispute that culminated in the recent strike action embarked upon by the Union.
Chief Nwonu made the appeal in a Press Statement issued and signed by him on Wednesday to newsmen in Abakaliki the Ebonyi State capital.
According to the Statement, “The one-month strike embarked upon by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), over Federal Government inability to implement agreements it entered into with the Association over better funding of the education sector is both avoidable and regrettable”
The Statement added, “The unabating disruptions witnessed in the education sector due to strikes is disturbing to me, stakeholders in the education sector and indeed all Nigerians because of the negative impacts of the strikes on the careers of Nigerian youths”
It added “in as much as the grouses and demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are genuine, the Federal Government might have been afraid of the capital intensity of ASUU’s demand”
“I wish to hereby reiterate my earlier appeal to the Federal Government and ASUU to exploit the option of positive compromises and come to an amicable resolution of this trade dispute”
It further added “by positive compromise notwithstanding the economic situation, the Federal Government should take radical reasonable steps or actions in the direction of proper funding of the Nigerian Education Sector”
The Statement further enjoined the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), to take cognizance of the ailing economy of Nigeria, adding that there are some basic things the Nigerian economy cannot permit the federal government to provide at the moment.
“With this middle-road mindset, the parties to the dispute will make necessary concessions and resolve the trade dispute amicably to enable our students resume their studies”
The Statement concluded that the quick resolution of the dispute, will save the students from distraction and frustration which naturally flows from strikes.
“The Nigerian nation as a whole will be saved the challenges of youth restiveness which usually compounds the country’s security challenges”
