Former military President, Gen. Ibrahim
Babangida, has thrown his weight behind the struggle by the Academic
Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), insisting that the union was
fighting in the interest of the nation.
Babangida spoke yesterday in his residence in Minna when he hosted the
Governing Council of the National Examinations Council (NECO) led by its
Chairman, Dr. Paddy Njoku.
He called on the university lecturers not to give up their negotiations with the federal government.
“It is unfortunate they (ASUU) are on strike but the fact is, they have
the national interest at hearth and I want to advice them not to give
up negotiating with government,” he said.
He said he was concerned
about the closure of the nation’s universities, but expressed optimism
that the industrial action would “soon be over in the interest of all.”
Babangida, however, saluted the federal government for its efforts to
resolve the crisis, adding that he learnt government was working hard to
ensure that the matter was resolved “soonest.”
Earlier, the NECO
governing council chairman said the examination body had re-positioned
itself to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the Nigerian child by
“reaching out to all stakeholders, including the school children in
order for the council to achieve its mandate.”
Source: Blueprint
