Tuesday 26th Oct.2021: President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to the leadership and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities and other unions within and outside the university system to always give peace a chance and embrace dialogue in resolving all complaints they have with government.
He made the appeal at the 36th convocation of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State on Saturday, Buhari said that the unions should realise that dialogue is always better than conflict.
ASUU had issued a November 1 ultimatum to the Federal Government for its demands which must be met.
Buhari who was Represented by Professor Ignatius Onimawu of the National University Commission (NUC), said, “No one gains from crisis. While government alone cannot solve all challenges facing a society, this administration is willing to listen to complaints and alternative points of views to managing a situation. The university system cannot withstand any crisis now, considering the time it had lost to coronavirus pandemic.
“As I appeal to the leadership and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, I also call on the leadership and members of other Unions within and outside the University system to always give peace a chance.”
The President also challenged the nation’s universities to conduct researches targeted at discovering an antidote to the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic in the interest of the nation.
He said that the nation’s universities have a role to play in the efforts at combating COVID-19 in the interest of the nation and humanity adding that the nation expects nothing less from the Nigerian university system.
“While I expect us to abide by all the protocols given out by health authorities on COVID-19, our universities have a role to play in the efforts at combating it in the interest of the nation and humanity. I expect our universities to conduct researches targeted at discovering an antidote to it. Universities are expected to focus their research attention in challenges facing our societies and find practical solutions within the context of national development.
“I, therefore, challenge the universities to give their best in the fight against this common and unrelenting enemy of humanity. I enjoin our researchers to collaborate among themselves amd look forward to bringing an effective solution to this medical challenge. The nation expects your university to play a leading role in the research efforts to develop COVID-19 antidote in Nigeria. The nation expects nothing less from the Nigerian university system,” he said.
