ACF to FG, ASUU: Change strategies to end incessant strikes

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to change the former strategies put in place to end the incessant industrial action embarked upon by the union.

The ACF, while offering to host the mediation, called on the FG and ASUU to reconsider further dialogues which deviate from the former strategies.

It made the call in a statement issued by the ACF Secretary-General, Malam Murtala Aliyu.

The statement which was titled, ‘ASUU strikes – ACF willing to host mediation’, was made available to The Star on Thursday.

The ACF stated that the ASUU strike over the last three decades has “set the tertiary education sector years behind, affecting the quality of the products”.

It added: “The current impasse has lasted too long, a sign that a different approach is needed to resolve this disagreement of ideas.

“The nation is held to ransom as a result of this deadlock and the situation must stop immediately.

“Arewa Consultative Forum calls on the Federal Government and ASUU, as a matter of urgency, reconsider further dialogues on alternative terms to the former strategies.

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“We, again, call on both parties to reconsider changing their approaches, as it is imperative to note here that strikes are too many and seem to be outdated and of little effect. Therefore, alternative measures to strikes must be thought of and the present situation must be reversed, immediately.”

The ACF further stated that a realistic response should be made to all ASUU requests, adding: “It is the parents, students, lecturers and the society, in general, that bear the brunt of these strikes more, and that such scenarios must be avoided to, responsively, deliver services to the nation.

“Every governments’, as well as stakeholders’ actions, should be seen to be responsive all through.

“It is, only, reasonable to act, immediately, to address all issues without making the rest of the public suffer any further. Arewa Consultative Forum is offering to host the mediation.”

It would be recalled that ASUU, on March 14, 2022, extended its industrial action, citing inability of the Federal Government to meet its demand.

The Star