ASUU Strike a National Embarrassment- Youth Group

ASUU Strike a National Embarrassment- Youth Group
…Calls on FG to Review its Actions
The Federal Government has been called upon to review her previous negotiations on the strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as the development is already a national embarrassment.
In a statement signed by the National President of the Society for Youth and the Downtrodden (SOYD), Comrade Gabriel Ogwuche and made available to Business Africa Digest in Abuja, the group said the continued ASUU strike and other challenges confronting the nation have exposed the underutilization of political machineries, wisdom and powers of government to address issues of national interest for reasons yet unknown.
“We are by this medium expressing our sadness over the continued ASUU strike in Nigeria and call on the federal government to immediately, as a matter of forty eight hours address the situation”, the statement said.
The statement further noted that the country’s vibrant young people have been reduced to state of statelessness due to this insensitivity, and wondered Why the government has continue to be economical with the enormous power it derived from the constitution through people`s mandate and allowed particular section of young students to suffer helplessly.
It noted that Nigeria is one of the countries that have the highest number of academicians and professors without research works to address any problems, stressing that many countries of the world generate up to 30 percent of its national revenue through academic research and development strategy but in Nigeria, the reverse is the case with academic sector`s over dependence on our shrinking economy.
The group further said that the continued ASUU strike clearly explains the extent of decay of our university value system and this have to stop permanently because it constitutes national embarrassment.
The government will be held responsible for these unwarranted actions if it failed to properly check and bring it under control as a matter of urgency.
The group however asked ASSU to shift ground, adding that the only national strikes that are justifiable among tertiary academic unions are those organized against the government`s failure to release fund for investment in research and development, and not for any financial remunerations/allowance of their members, while urging ASUU and members to accede to this standard from henceforth in order to develop Nigeria.
“At the moment, Nigeria economy is sinking due to the burden of huge consumption orientation and therefore, any monetary demand on government by any organised unions will worsen the situation, if favourably considered. Firstly, we need to give value to our Naira by reducing consumption expenditures and invest to save the situation”, the statement further said..
The group calls on the ASUU to immediately call off the strike and direct its members to resume work, and urged the Federal Government to invest in research and development for sustainable economic future and prosperity of our education sector.