TheCable

Adamu Adamu, minister of education, on Tuesday, met with vice-chancellors and pro-chancellors of federal universities to find a solution to the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Speaking at the meeting, the minister said the indefinite strike is a source of “anguish and internal turmoil” to him.

According to NAN, Adamu said he hopes the parties can reach an amicable resolution of all the issues, adding that the past few weeks have “been a very dark period in the education sector”.

“I used to think in a climate of frankness, and with mutual goodwill, an end or solution would have been found to incessant strikes in the education sector,” he said.

“This has not been possible or, at least, not as easy and straightforward, as I used to think.”

The minister also addressed a statement credited to Emmanuel Osodeke, ASUU president, saying the union would no longer negotiate with the current administration on the ongoing strike.

Adamu said such a position must be resisted to salvage the country’s educational system.

“Government and ASUU have no option than to continue talking, until our universities are reopened to students who, clearly, are the principal victims of the seemingly unending strike,” he added.

“In these circumstances, therefore, all councils and senates of our universities are enjoined to rise up to their responsibilities.

“We must, together, continue to work to restore our public universities to where they are in the 60s and 70s.

“As the most important officers in our university system, Pro Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors, must demonstrate more commitment to ending the ongoing strike.”

The minister called on the vice-chancellors and pro-chancellors to make it a duty to promote policies and actions that would discourage industrial disputes on campuses.