Orji Kalu Berates FG Over Continued Closure Of Federal Universities 

In what observers regard as a twist of events and one of the greatest surprises of the moment, Orji Uzor Kalu has berated the ruling All Progressives Congress federal government over the continued closure of the Federal universities due the strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Kalu said it amounts to playing with the future of our youth.

Consequently, the Senate Chief Whip has urged the Federal Government to re-open negotiations with ASUU.

Kalu, in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja decried the disruption of academic activities as a result of strikes by the university lecturers.

According to him, the federal government should also endeavour to implement the signed agreements with the lecturers in the interest of students, their parents, the education sector, and the country at large.

He described as worrisome the continued brain-drain in the country, which he said had contributed to poor quality of Nigerian graduates.

“Incessant strikes disrupt the academic calendar, encourage brain drain and contribute significantly to the poor quality of graduates in the Country, with far-reaching implications on national development.

“The federal government should urgently take all necessary measures to open a realistic negotiation with ASUU to stop the strike and implement the signed agreements in the interest of our students, their parents, the education sector, and the country.

“We must stop playing with the future of our youths,” he said.

Recall that ASUU began strike on Feb. 14, 2022, due to the government’s failure to meet its demands.

The union insisted on the strike due to failure of the government to meet the 2009 agreement.

The ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osedeke, said that the union took the ‘difficult decision’ after exhausting all avenues available to amicably settle the matter with the federal government.
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But some stakeholders have expressed surprise over sudden turn of events whereby some chieftains of the party have suddenly woken up to criticize action of its party few months to elections.

“If the national assembly was alive to its responsibilities some of the challenges the country is facing today would have been avoided.

“Some of us are surprised why the chief whip of the ruling party is just coming out to criticize an action or inaction of their party led government after most parents have been traumatized and the youth losing confidence in their leaders.,”says an education consultant, who pleaded for anonymity