ASUU’s strike political, says Lawmaker

A House of Representatives member, Rep. Johnson Agbonayinma (Edo-PDP), has alleged that the Academic Staff Union of Universities’ (ASUU) strike is politically motivated.

Agbonayinma said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday. He said that the strike embarked upon by the lecturers on Aug. 14, was a deliberate plot to disrupt President Muhammadu Buhari’s return.

“I have great respect for the lecturers and those who have decided to be of help to humanity, I would advise the teachers to continue their good work and avoid politics.

“It is just that in Nigeria, teachers are not well respected, however, I have a problem with this strike which is nothing but political.

“There is a political undertone that is being played for ASUU to go on strike and the cabals are part of the problems we are facing, they do not want Nigerians to move forward.

“For God’s sake, how can Nigerian children spend seven to eight years trying to obtain first degrees as a result of strike all the time? “It does not happen elsewhere in the developing countries, why is Nigeria always behind in everything.

“There are feelers that President Buhari is coming back to Nigeria, they now decide with the cabals to instigate strike so that Nigeria will be in a chaotic position.

“We cannot continue like this as a nation,’’ he said. Agbonayinma, therefore, appealed to the leadership of ASUU to call off the strike.

“I want to appeal to the leadership of ASUU to put Nigeria first, let’s think about our children. I believe in dialogue, I believe in peaceful resolution of crisis.

“This continuous strike every year will not solve the problem of this country,’’ he said.