Varsity chancellors lament ASUU strike
By Chris Ochayi
ABUJA-The Forum of Chancellors of Universities yesterday raised the alarm over the ongoing industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Univeristies (ASUU), which has paralysed academic activities in the universities, saying the situation is getting out of hands.
The Asagba of Asaba and Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Professor Chike Edozien, convened the forum with a view to finding a lasting solution to the 9-week old industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Professor Edozien said the situation is getting out of hand from what started like a joke, and that they could no longer fold its arms while things eteriorate in the nation’s ivory towers.
According to him, “given the pivotal role education, particularly the university plays in the development of any nation makes it impossible for stakeholders in the sector to allow the obvious rot and decay of infrastructures to persist, which according to him were consequences of internal activities.”
The negative consequences of these in the long run he pointed out is gross under-development, that could continue to plague the country for so long.
“It is an acceptable fact that education, especially university education holds the key to our dream of attaining technological advancement. However, our universities are so debilitated and famished by so many inadequacies and dysfunctional internal activities most of which have continued to plague the system.”
Prof. Edozien lamented “the current strike action by the university-based unions, which started as a child’s play has gradually entered the 9th week.”
“As royal fathers, we cannot afford to fold its arms and watch helplessly to allow the situation to degenerate beyond this point.
This is why we must put our hands together to ensure that by the end of today, we are able to find a lasting solution to the imbroglio so that normalcy can return to our university campuses, he saidâ€.
