By Ude Ogbonnaya Israel
The Chairperson Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi branch, Dr. Ibrahim Ibrahim Inuwa has maintained that the appeal of President Muhammadu Buhari for the union to call off the strike does not translate to solution to the problem.
The branch ASUU Chairman who spoke exclusively to our reporter held that mere appeal that is not accompanied by action will hardly make the union change its mind on the ongoing roll over strike.
“The fact that the President has appealed will not automatically translate to solving the problem we have in the University.
” We appreciate the fact that the President acknowleged that there is a problem in the University but he need to do more; not just begging that we end the strike without action.
” Begging us to end the strike without doing something is just like saying that somebody is dying, get a medication to cure the person you are not doing that, you are saying we should gradually watch him while he die”, he said.
Dr. Ibrahim Inuwa insisted that unlike widely held notion that the 2009 agreement is unrealistic it is very realistic if the government willing to do it in order to salvage the ailing Nigerian educational sector.
He argued that if Nigerian Universities are to stop producing unemployable graduadtes as one of the blames heaped on them, then some of those Infrastructural needs they are insisting on will have to be made available for students.
The ASUU branch Chairman asserted that they have explored other available options and had strike as the last reosort, adding that it does not matter the number of times it happens as long as it will yield positive result.
He accused politiciaians on playing on the mind of the public and painting them as I sensitive before the public when in reality, they the politicians are the selfish and insensitive set of people.
On the recent meeting held with the Federal government after President Buhari’s appeal, Dr Inuwa said the public should not listen to Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige who told the press that the meeting was fruitful.
He said, “This is a collective bargainng, it takes two to negotiate and agree on the contentious issue, I don’t think Nigerians should take the words coming v from Labour Employment Minister very serious.
” He is just trying to push the heat on us, pitch us against the public”, he added.
