Education

Parents, students commend ASUU, FG over strike suspension

Some parents and students in Abuja have commended the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government for the suspension of the eight-month-old strike.

A parent whose child is in the University of Abuja, Nicholas Emmanuel, said he was happy the strike had been suspended.

Emmanuel, however, appealed to the Federal Government to keep to its promise by meeting the demands of ASUU to avoid a further strike.

“I give God all the glory and I thank the Federal Government and ASUU for making this suspension possible.

“I have to look for money to send to my son to enable him to go back to school,” he said.

Another parent who has three children at the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna, Mrs Rosemary Adejoh, also expressed happiness that the strike had been suspended.

“Before the strike, I had settled them, including providing for their upkeep, I will have to spend extra money on them again.

“My appeal is for a permanent solution to end the strike so that our children can graduate within the stipulated years of their courses,” she said.

Similarly, a parent in Gwagwalada Area Council whose child is studying veterinary medicine at the University of Abuja, Mr Luka Ayuba, said the strike had made his son shift focus to other things that he did not budget for.

“After each episode of strike, the children are no more focused and they end up not graduating within the stipulated years,” he said.

However, a 400-level student at the University of Abuja, Yemilo David, commended the Federal Government and ASUU for reaching an agreement to suspend the strike.

“I am really happy that finally I will be going back to complete my university education and I am looking forward to attending my lectures.

“Suspension of the strike means so much to us as students, we are tired of staying at home.

“It’s a thing of joy for me and all students out there and the suspension of the strike is a relief to my parents,” she said.

Another student in the Department of Agricultural Science, John Iguve, said: “The strike is not good for our education system, it is killing our academic output.

“Though I used the period to learn graphic design, which I have added to my knowledge, the truth is that not everybody will learn skills the way I did,” he said.

The Star