The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Suleyman Age Abdulkareem has expressed concern over the 12 weeks extended strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities in Nigeria.
He advised the Federal government to look for money by all means possible, even if by borrowing and resolve the on going strike action by public universities teachers in the country.
The VC, urged the Federal government and Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to resolve the crisis for normalcy to return to the country’s public universities.
Professor Abdulkareem, who is Chairman, Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities, expressed total displeasure over the three months extended strike action by ASUU, saying,” the development would further slow down Nigeria’s progress.”
He noted that it was unfortunate that it is the students who are directly affected by the academic disruption and their parents that will bear the consequences of the development.
The VC observed that students staying at home when they are expected to be in class studying, even for a day let alone for many months as the current case in Nigerian public universities, is not a good omen for any serious country.
“ASUU, had originally been on a month warning strike and rolled the action over in the month of March for another two months before it now announced additional three months, all because the Federal government did not yield to its demands, which all bother on the money,” the VC noted.