TOUGHER TIMES AHEAD : ASUU strike: NUT threatens to shut down schools

The Nigeria Union of Teachers on Thursday gave a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities to end the strike embarked upon by lecturers in the nation’s public universities. The NUT President, Mr. Michael Olukoya, stated this in Abuja at the end of the union’s meeting, NAN reported.
ASUU, had since July 1, embarked on a strike it described as “comprehensive, total and indefinite.” The lecturers are protesting against the non-implementation of an agreement they entered into with the Federal Government in 2009. Olukoya said members of the union would not hesitate to close down the nation’s schools, if the two parties failed to reach agreement after two weeks.
He described the current ASUU strike as nationalistic, patriotic and self-sacrificing.
He said, “We will not hesitate to shut down the education system in the country, if the government fails to fulfil or honour the agreement it entered into with the lecturers.” Olukoya also described the call by the Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole for an overhaul of the qualifications of teachers in the state as unacceptable to the NUT. He said the blame should be put on the door steps of the employers and not teachers. He added, “NUT will forever be proud of all its teachers, believing that all employment agencies are corruption-free, disciplined and quality-conscious in their employment drives.” Olukoya also urged the governors of Kogi, Benue and Cross River states to honour the agreement they made with their teachers on the payment of 27.5 per cent teachers salary structure.
Meanwhile, the President, Rotary Club of Abuja, Maitama District, Ms. Evelyn Onyilo, has called for the introduction of guidance and counselling as a subject in the secondary school curriculum to enable students to choose their careers. She made the call on Wednesday in Abuja while delivering a career talk to pupils of Government Secondary School, Dutse. Onyilo, who urged youths to imbibe leadership skills instead of waiting for the future, said it would be better for the future of the country. She said, “As you are in school, do not throw away your talent or skill; put your interest into consideration. You can be what you want to be as long as you are not involved in crime. Any profitable venture you can engage in now will profit you and the society.”
During the talk, the Rotary Foundation chairman, Mr. Oye Oyewo, noted that most pupils’ career choice was either influenced by their environment or their families. He advised them to do what they enjoy doing effortlessly, “because many people today have found themselves in the wrong profession and they end up being frustrated and unhappy.” Oyewo said doing the right course would enhance a young person’s fulfillment in life. “Your area of strength is where your capacity lies”, he stated. Responding, one of the pupils, Inyanya Sunday, said he learnt through the talk that one could be a doctor and still be an entrepreneur.