The Senate President, David Mark, on Thursday reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment towards addressing the ills in the education sector including the demands for the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and other unions in the tertiary institutions across the country.
Mark, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Paul Mumeh, stated this when he played host to the executive of ASUP in his office.
He noted that the biggest investment any government could give to its citizenry was education at all levels.
He said, “The demands of ASUP indicate that the union is not selfish. They are requesting for not only their welfare but infrastructural development that would promote learning in the polytechnics. I was delighted when I heard that the union gave room for the new Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, to settle down and look into the demands of the union. This shows some level of understanding.
“We must continue to dialogue. What we need is to resolve all the issues raised and bring back our students to classes. Polytechnic education is a unique form of education no nation desirous of development can ignore.”
Mark assured the polytechnic lecturers that the Senate under his leadership would continue to do the needful to make sure normalcy returns to our polytechnics.
He said, “The Senate will continue to do the needful to bring back our students to classes and ensure normalcy returns to the sector.”
The President of ASUP, Dr. Chibuzo Asomuogha, commended the National Assembly for the steps taken so far at resolving the strike.
He called on Mark and the Senate to prevail on the Federal Government to attend to the demands of the union before the expiration of the three months suspension of the strike.
He added that lecturers were always ready to put in their best to develop the polytechnic education across the nation.
