ASUU Strike: Nigerian Youths Clamour For Positive Change

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National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) in a release recently called on President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to swiftly consider the deteriorating situation of the Education Sector and proffer a viable way forward.

The groups said the increasing rate of crime rates in the country in the months of July and August can be closely linked with the prevailing two-month strike action of the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) which has rendered students idle.

According to NANS and NYCN, students have stayed home for an average of 3 years in the last 10 years which is sufficient to earn a degree in countries like Germany. They therefore called on President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to make positive changes for the upliftment of the Educational sector while still commending him for seeing the need to attempt a different approach in confronting the challenges in the sector which he depicted through the recent Ministerial reshuffle.

As part of the recommendation, the groups has stressed that  ASUU and the Federal Government should go back to the negotiating table. Both parties are urged to please shift ground to ensure quick resolution of the crises.

Also,  they called for Needs Assessment of the Polytechnics and Colleges of Education just as was done for the universities to ascertain their level of decay as this may also stop unions in these institutions from embarking on their own strike.

Furthermore, the President should not delay in filling the vacancy in the Ministry of Education as there are still many urgent needs in the Ministry requiring attention and gave competence, clear understanding of the challenges of the sector, capacity to command the respect of stakeholder unions in the sector as the creteria which should be use in getting a replacement for out gone Minister of Education Prof. Rukayattu Rufai.
The groups concluded by commending Prof. Rukayattu Rufai for doing her best while she served as Minister and wish her the best in her future endeavours.