The senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District and an All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant in the state, Uba Sani, has asked the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities to return to the negotiating table for an amicable resolution of the more than 80-day-old strike.
According to the lawmaker, the more public universities remain closed, “the more the future of the children and the country is mortgaged.”
Sani, who stated this while saluting the doggedness of the Nigerian workers in a statement to mark the ‘Workers’ Day’, in Kaduna on Sunday, appealed to the Federal Government to go back negotiation table with the university lecturers in order to resolve the lingering strike that had kept Nigerian students out of schools for months now.
He noted that the new economy was knowledge-driven as such allowing the ASUU strike to linger on would worsen the nation’s economy.
The lawmaker said, “We appeal to the Federal Government to seize the occasion of Workers Day to reenergise its negotiation with the Academic Staff Union of Universities in order to resolve the lingering disagreements that have kept Nigerian children at home for many months.
“The more public tertiary institutions remain closed, the more the future of the children and the country is mortgage
“The new economy is one that is knowledge-driven. If we fail to resolve issues now, we may worsen our socio-economic crisis.”
The APC governorship hopeful also enjoined workers to participate actively in peace-building in their respective communities to ensure the restoration of peace and order in the state.
This was just as he assured that he would prioritise workers’ welfare and implement policies and programmes that would better the living conditions of the people, if given the opportunity to govern the state in 2023.
Sani, who is also the Senate Committee Chairman on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, added, “deploy your intellect and energies to build resilient communities. Well-organised community defence groups can supply the necessary intelligence to security agencies to nip security threats in the bud.
“We are working assiduously to secure the mandate of the good people of Kaduna State. If, by the special grace of God, I get the people’s mandate, I will prioritise workers welfare and implement policies and programmes that will better the living conditions of the people.”
