24th October, 2013
Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, the immediate past President of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called for patriotic approach in finding a lasting solution to the present ASUU strike.
Awuzie, now the Vice-Chancellor, Imo State University, made the call in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday.
He said it was of no use trading blames while abandoning the real issue which according to him had kept young Nigerian men and women at home longer than necessary.
“We must find a way of bringing understanding and trust to bear in this issue if we hope to find an urgent solution.
“Both parties must strive to restore trust and come to equilibrium and then return to the table and look at the matter once again from a patriotic perspective, “ he said.
The former ASUU boss said visitation panels went round the universities for data on what was missing in the system to enable government to make informed decisions on how to reform the system.
He urged lecturers on strike to get meaningfully engaged by getting involved in community service and research while awaiting an amicable solution to the issue.
University lecturers, under the umbrella of ASUU, embarked on what they described as comprehensive, total and indefinite strike on June 30.
The lecturers’ grouse is the non-implementation of some sections of an agreement which the union signed with the Federal Government in 2009.