February 28, (THEWILL) – The minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, on Monday, walked out of a meeting with University students, who were protesting over the incessant strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The Minister had scheduled an impromptu meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), who barricaded the entrance of the federal ministry of education at the Central Area in Abuja on Monday.
The students asked the minister to close down his office since he could not resolve the crisis between the Federal Government and ASUU, while also lamenting the failure of the government to resolve ASUU strike after several years.
Speaking during a meeting with the Minister, the President of NANS, Sunday Asefon, said, “ASUU strike is killing education more and more. This strike has been affecting our lives since 1999 and Nigerian students want to be part of the discussion between the federal government and ASUU to find a lasting solution to the matter.
“We used to keep quiet whenever ASUU is on strike, we have decided to stop that. The strike is killing us, killing the education system. We want the Government to sit down and iron things out.
“I stand to be corrected that since 1999, ASUU has had 16 strikes wasting the lives of students and despite that, nothing has come out of it.
“We are forced to ask if ASUU and FG are playing us. We are also not happy because we are the major stakeholders in the education sector. We have never been part of the negotiating process, we don’t know the content in the 2009 agreement, we want to know the level of commitment attached to this agreement if there is one?
“On this note, we demand to be part of this negotiation, we want to know what is going on between ASUU and the federal government. These are two parents and they have disappointed us. We want the federal government and ASUU to find an equilibrium as a matter of urgency and call off the strike, while the negotiation is ongoing.
“We are the ones bearing the brunt. At the end of every month, both the lecturers and ministers get their salaries. Who pays us for our wasted time? Nobody. We’re tired of these incessant strikes.
“We want the federal government and ASUU to, as a matter of urgency, call off this strike while negotiation continues. We want to go back to classes, if not this will be more than #EndSARS protest.”
But, trouble started when in the course of the meeting, the students leadership questioned the minister for putting the education sector in a mess while sending his children to study abroad.
But in his response, the minister expressed disappointment at the behaviour of the students.
He said, “I must begin by telling you that I am very disappointed, if this is the way you want to put your case across to us. What you have said should have been told to the ASUU leadership.
“What is it that we should have done that we have not? Instead of coming here, you should have addressed your lecturers.
“The only point that you made that is worthy of giving attention, is that you said students should be involved in the negotiation process is the only thing I am going to take out of all you have said.”
Adamu, who was not happy about the statement about his person, said he was disappointed with the students’ comments” and thereafter stepped out of the conference room.
