Buhari laments incessant strike action by teachers, university workers in the country

Nigeria’s  Federal Government has lamented the incessant strike action by teachers and other university workers, saying that the repercussions of the strike actions usually retard the smooth running of academic activities in institutions with heavy negative consequences on the development of the country.

President Mohammed Buhari who is also the Visitor to the University stated this Saturday at the combined 23rd, 24th and 25th convocation ceremony of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, ATBU held at the  Yelwa Campus of the university in Bauchi.

The President who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the National University Commission, (NUC), Dr Gidado Bello however assured that his administration will soon come up with modalities of addressing grievances of teachers and university workers without a faceoff in order to stabilize and balance the system.

He assured, “Our resolve to address the decay in the system is in no doubt, just as our collective resolve as a government and people is unwavering. We invite you to come to us with meaningful suggestions that will add value to the system.”

The President added that “It is my belief that the exchange of views and ideas will assist in arriving at mutually acceptable solutions to most of our today’s problem in the educational sector I, therefore, advise for continued dialogue and consultations among all the stakeholders in the system.”

President Buhari called on staff of the university to re-invent the culture of leadership, followership and stewardship, pointing out that they must be leaders in their assigned responsibilities of tutoring the youths, imbibe followership to the constituted authorities and be stewards to the overall system for the progress of the country.

He then advised students to imbibe the culture of discipline and respect for their teachers and the university authorities, stressing that their purpose is not only to learn their books and conduct research but to learn how to be responsible citizens away from the watch of their parents.While congratulating the graduands President Buhari charged them to be loyal to their superiors wherever they find themselves and stand at the truth at all times saying, “You must realize that you have climbed the middle ladder in your journey as responsible citizens. You will now be released into the productive society where you will struggle to demonstrate what you can offer for the survival of mankind.”

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While calling on the state government to render support and encouragement to university management situated in their midst, the president said that last year the federal government reconstituted the governing councils of many federal universities who are saddled with the responsibility of promoting policies of change in the system.

In her address at the ceremony, the Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University, Ambassador Nimota Akanbi commended the Federal government for its effort in ensuring a boost in the educational sector by restoring relative peace in the North Eastern part of the country.

She charged stakeholders in the country not to relent in ensuring that education reaches the doorsteps of every Nigerian child from basic to tertiary level, saying that no society can progress if its educational sector retrogresses.

“We are living in times of great changes and a lot of socioeconomic and political turmoil. We have in the recent past experienced a period when the educational sector was challenged, especially in this part of the country, but with God on our side, this period is fast becoming history.”

“It is a cardinal responsibility upon parents, government and every stakeholder to guard the godly principle of making education a universal right. As appointees of the federal government, our major task is to ensure that we promote the policies of the government and think alike in the pursuit of our goals and aspirations. We are ready to ensure that any policy of the federal government will be given the attention it deserves”, she said.

 Nimota Akanbi also charged the graduands to make use of the training they acquired during their period of study at the institution, saying “you have every reason to feel elated because you have joined the privileged class of the educated, therefore whatever you decide to make of your future is in your hands”.

In his address at the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Saminu Abdulrahman Ibrahim said that a total of 8,496 graduands made of 480 for diplomas, 5,637 for first degrees, 1,518 for PGD, 770 for masters and 90 for PhDs.

He said that out of the total of first degrees, 118 obtained first class, 1,618 obtained second class upper, 2,609 obtained second class lower, 1,231 obtained third class and 61 got pass degrees.

He congratulated the graduands for their various achievements and charged them to be good ambassadors, saying they will not only get paid for knowledge alone, but for bringing something to the table.