Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have expressed readiness to wade into the protracted strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) and Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, made the disclosure when he led his colleagues on a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.
He assured that governors were ready to accept any negotiations with the striking lecturers that would lead to resolution of the contentious issues.
“We note the pronouncement of ASUU. We recall the appeal of the President to ASUU while we were visiting Daura that they should consider the future of students.
“We will not dwell on that now. We are ready to accept any negotiations for resolution,’’ Bagudu said.
Lecturers in public varsities have been on strike for over six months with no prospects of it ending soon as the leadership of the union has extended the industrial action indefinitely.
The lecturers have repeatedly complained of poor infrastructure in the universities and seeking an increase in their salaries and allowances. On Monday, February 29, ASUU directed its members to embark on total, comprehensive and indefinite strike. For more than six months, the lecturers have turned their back on the classrooms over inability of the Federal Government to implement an agreement reached in 2009. On Monday, the lecturers union declared an indefinite strike.
