From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) like any neutral socio-political organization in the country has offered to mediate on the impasse between Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government.
ACF noted that the frequency of the strike over the last three decades has set the tertiary education sector backward, affecting the quality of the students.
In a statement signed by the Secretary General of the Forum, Malam Murtala Aliyu, it said the current impasse has lasted too long, a sign that a different approach is needed to resolve the disagreement.
“The ACF thought it wise to mediate considering the uncompromising stands of the two bodies, as to the issues at stake.
“It is with great sense of concern that the Arewa Consultative Forum find it necessary to speak up in the standoff between the negotiation teams, on a situation causing chains of academic strikes in the country.
“The frequency of the strike over the last three decades has set the tertiary education sector years behind, affecting the quality of the products.
The current impasse has lasted too long, a sign that a different approach is needed to resolve this disagreement of ideas.
“The nation is held to ransom as a result of this deadlock and the situation must stop immediately. Arewa Consultative Forum calls on the Federal Government and ASUU, as a matter of urgency, reconsider further dialogues on alternative terms to the former strategies.
“We, again, call on both parties to reconsider changing their approaches.
“It is imperative to note that Strike are too many and seem to be outdated and of little effect. Therefore, alternative measures to strikes must be thought of and the present situation must be reversed, immediately.
“Realistic response should be made to all ASUU requests. It is the parents, students, lecturers and the society, in general, that bear the brunt of these strikes more, and that such scenarios must be avoided to, responsively, deliver services to the nation.
“Every governments’ as well as stakeholders’ actions should be seen to be responsive all through. It is, only, reasonable to act, immediately, to address all issues without making the rest of the public suffer any further”. The statement said.