FG/ASUU Tango: Implement Agreement, Mark Counsels

President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has counseled both the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to respect the agreement that led to the end of the six months old industrial action in order to avoid a repeat of the unfortunate saga in the future.

Similarly, Senator Mark advised that the N200billion Naira Education Fund lodged at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) vault for the purpose of addressing the ills in the universities should be used judiciously to curb the defects.

Speaking when the President of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge, his Vice, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi and his predecessors Dipo Fashina as well as Dr. Abdullahi Sule-Kano visited him, Senator Mark urged them to do all that is required to return education to its former glory.

He restated that Education remains the bed rock of any nation which must not be compromised or toiled with.

“Education is the foundation of any development.   No nation toils with the education of its citizens.  We must make our education strong and functional.  We must strive to lay a solid foundation for our future”, Senator Mark stressed.

He sympathized with ASUU on the death of its former President, Professor Festus Iyayi and canvassed for a qualitative education in the country as a mark of respect that late Iyayi did not die in vain.

Senator Mark said wide consultation and dialogue remains the best approach to any disagreement saying that constant dialogue is the antidote to industrial dispute.

Earlier, the President of ASUU, Isa Fagge thanked the Senate for the mediation that led to the end of the strike.

Fagge regretted the prolonged strike on account of the initial reluctance of government to implement the agreement of the 2009 accord.

“I can now confirm that the agreement has been signed between ASUU and Federal Government.  The N200billion Naira Education Fund has also been credited at the CBN.  We have also constituted an implementation monitoring committee on the agreement to avoid any breach, “the ASUU helmsman affirmed.

Signed:

Paul Mumeh

Chief Press Secretary to the President of the Senate.