A Salem University, Lokoja lecturer, Professor Isaac Oyawale says the Federal Government has taken a wrong step with its decision to take ASUU to the National Industrial Court where it got a judgement mandating the union to return to class.
The academician was speaking in an interview with our correspondent in Lokoja on Thursday.
To him, “Government is just trying to pour more gasoline on an already raging fire. You cannot use force to force a body of intellectually astute and academically rich group by trying to coerce them into going back to the classrooms.
“What I expected government to have done is to look at the issues holistically, meet ASUU halfway, not through the hanky-panky they are currently using but by being truthful and sincere in their dealings.”
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He said lecturers may decide to resume without teaching the students or even deciding to take the job with more laxity, noting that it would be counter productive.
The lecturer, who expressed concern about the plight of the students, urged both government and the lecturers to reach amicable resolution for the students to acquire necessary knowledge for national development.
He noted the need for a more open, sincere and engaging dialogue between ASUU and government to arrive at a common ground that would put the lingering issues to permanent end and bring a new lease of life to University education in Nigeria.
“I sincerely hope that government would listen to ASUU and ensure all issues that causing disaffection between them are resolved for the sake of the next generation and for a new lease of life to be open for public universities.”