From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja
Senate Chief Whip, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has again appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the ongoing strike by university workers.
Kalu had, in a statement, early this month, appealed to the Federal government to re-open negotiations with ASUU in order to end the over six months industrial action.
The senator called on the Federal Government to also implement the signed agreements with the lecturers in the interest of students, their parents, the education sector and the country at large.
Kalu described, as worrisome, the continued brain-drain in the country which, which he said had contributed to poor quality of Nigerian graduates.
However, Kalu, in a post on his verified Facebook page, yesterday, urged President Buhari to take decisive measures on his ministers to end the strike so that students can return to campus.
He added that he averted teachers strike when he governed Abia State through investment in education. The Abia-North senator also stressed that as legislator, his capacity to end the strike is limited based on his constitutional powers.
“I appeal to President Buhari to put more pressure on his ministers and get the students back to class. ASUU should also make the negotiation easier. A lot of people from my constituency are out of school due to the ongoing strike. They have been on me and it gets me more worried.
“I am only a legislator and my powers are limited. When I was governor, I never, for once, allowed the schools in Abia to go on strike.
“Life is about negotiation and I believe the Federal Government and ASUU can end this strike today.
“Nothing derails a country like lack of education; it’s worse than insecurity,” he said.