Orefo Nnamdi Onochie, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Nigerian Envoy to Algeria and Philippines, has berated the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government on the ongoing nationwide strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, over its inability to implement the previous agreement.
WITHIN NIGERIA reported that the nationwide strike was declared on Monday, during a press conference addressed by the President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke.
The ASUU President, who said the industrial action would last for a period of four weeks to enable the Federal Government to make changes, also vowed that the union would embark on an indefinite strike if their demands are not met within one month.
Recall that ASUU had last week, sensitised and mobilised lecturers and students across all universities on the reason the union is deciding to down tools.
However, while reacting to the strike action, Onochie, who recently declared to contest the position of President of Nigeria in 2023 general elections, in a statement forwarded to DAILY POST on Thursday evening, insisted that the country is still in shreds and frowned at the government’s inconsistency with its federal education policies and funding.
The ex-diplomat, who noted that the union has been at loggerheads with the federal authorities on the funding of Nigeria education for close to 30 years now, regretted also that the government does not prioritize the education sector in the optimal position it must be.
“For example, Nigeria demands from those who run education to use N15.00 only when they are requesting to be given N100.00. How can it work? Unless our education is effective and of the necessary quality, the future is bleak for all and sundry,” he also posited.