Senate asks ASUU to call off strike, have confidence in its ability to resolve impasse

**Says 2009 Agreement no longer tenable

**”NANS vows to disrupt party primaries in FCT

The Senate on Tuesday promised to intervene and resolve the disagreement between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for early resumption of academic activities in the ivory towers.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan made the pledge during a meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students led by its President, Asefon Sunday Adedayo at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.

The meeting between the Senate President and the leadership of NANS was facilitated by Bishop Dr. Sunday Onuoha with a view to discourage Nigerian students from embarking on protest that will vandalise public infrastructures.

The Senate President discribed the ASUU’s disagreement with the federal government as a serious issue that is having negative impacts on the future of Nigerian students and that of the development of the country in general.

He noted that the bone of contention is the 2009 agreement signed with ASUU by previous administration adding that it has now dawned on every party involved that the 2009 agreement is no longer tenable.

“For me the 2009 agreement was signed in error which the government should not have signed in the first place. This is because there is no resources to provide all the items on the agreement,

“I can assure you that we will bring ASUU and FG back to negotiation table in the interest of the development of the country, because no nation can develop meaningfully and sustainably without educating her citizens.
“As a nation, we know that we have to spend and spend to educate our citizens and we are not going to shy away from this fact”

I can assure you, you are in the right place and the Senate is not only going to bring ASUU and FG to negotiate, we are also going to participate in the negotiation until the whole issue is resolved,” Lawan said.

The Senate President also appealed to ASUU to call off the ongoing strike and have confidence in the Senate’s ability to resolve the disagreement amicably

Senator Lawan also appealed to NANS leadership to prvail on other students nationwide to always follow the path of peace adding that there is no problem that it is not surmountable.

Earlier the NANS President, Asefon Sunday Adedayo expressed disappointment with the federal government for neglecting the education of Nigerian students

He noted that government put priority on political activities to the detriment of students who are discribed as the future leaders.

He also vowed that Nigerian students will disrupt any political activities in the FCT unless the issue of ASUU strike is resolved and students back to school.

Asefon also lamented that a four year programme has been prolonged to eight years adding the situation is now getting worse as the ASUP just announced move to commence strike.