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A combined meeting Of CSOs, Clerics, parents and stakeholders with CNG-SW, Kogi State Chapter On ASUU and COEASU Strike have condemned the levity and condescension with which the Federal Government is approaching the indefinite closure of Universities and Associated Institutions.
The combined groups in a press conference held at the NUJ Press Centre, described the recent shameless admission by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed that the complexities of the situation are beyond comprehension.
Speaking on behalf of the groups, Comr. Adams Ayuba, State Co-ordinator notes that if decent moves being employed by the group fails to yield positive results and ensure the reopening of Universities, vow to mobilize students and parents to massive zonal protests that would entail the shutting down of activities in all states and national assemblies.
Similarly, it promises to shut down all political party offices and all major highways, airways and railways, assuring that it would be a total shutdown.
The groups reminded ASUU and other unions of the imperative of changing the traditional tactics of calling off work which has never served any purpose.
The groups called on ASUU to join forces with students, their parents and civil society organisations to device means of achieving lasting solutions, keeping in mind that government has less concern, especially with the way they are issuing licences for private universities.
The groups said it will mobilize enmass as well as join it other 18 Northern states chapters to collaborate with other students, parents and civil society organisations in the respective states for mega meetings to decide definite courses of action.
The groups says it would
personally petition traditional rulers, religious leaders, government officials, and security personnel in the respective states towards ending the prolonged strike action.
A COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A COMBINED MEETING OF CSOs, CLERICS, PARENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS WITH CNG-SW, KOGI STATE CHAPTER ON ASUU AND COEASU STRIKE.
The Student wing of the Coalition of Northern Group, Kogi state chapter held a press briefing after a stakeholders meeting on issues concerning the prolongs industrial strike action in the educational sector.
The Students Wing, is extremely worried by the prolonged closure of Nigerian Universities and Colleges of Education in recent, as a result of the resurgence of aged unresolved disagreement between the Federal Government, Academic staff Union of University (ASUU) and the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU).
We are worried particularly, at the closure of these high institutions, which is in its 5th month with no immediate resolution in sight, carries high social, moral, security and economic costs for citizens across the country particularly Northern Nigerian communities.
We are disturbed also that with the closure of Universities and other educational institutions which are hubs of social activity and human interaction for such indefinite durations, Nigerian youth, especially those of financially distressed families, are inadvertently forced to miss out on social contact that is essential to learning and development.
OBSERVATIONS
The CNG-SW notes that the protracted closure of our Universities and Colleges of Education has exposed the children of the poor to violence and exploitation with early marriages, more idle minds recruited into militias, sexual exploitation of girls and young women, teenage pregnancies, and child labour, already becoming more common.
We note also that both Government and the unions are so unconcerned because the disadvantages of the closure are disproportionate for under-privileged students who have fewer or zero educational opportunities beyond Nigeria as their parents are unable to redirect them to foreign-based schools that remain open.
They appear not to bother because apparently, the impact is particularly severe for the most vulnerable and marginalized boys and girls and their families with the resulting disruptions exacerbating already existing disparities within the education system, and in other aspects of their lives.
SUGGESTIONS
1. We call on the government to wake up and be alive to their responsibilities by attending to the needs of the striking unions and Nigerians in General.
2. We call on the striking Unions, ASUU, COEASU and others, to make a paradigm shift and innovate or explore other means press home their demands or resolve their differences.
3. Both FG and the striking unions should consider and put the interest of the students at the front burner of their discussion or decisions at all times.
RESOLUTIONS.
In the light of the foregone observations, and suggestions, the meeting of the CNG-SW has resolved to declare the following stands categorically.
To condemn the levity and condescension with which the Federal Government is approaching the indefinite closure of Universities and Associated Institutions, especially with the recent shameless admission by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed that the complexities of the situation are beyond comprehension.
To remind ASUU and other unions of the imperative of changing the traditional tactic of calling off work which has never served any purpose and instead, join forces with the students, their parents and civil society organisations to device means of achieving lasting solutions, keeping in mind that government has less concern, especially with the way they are issuing licences for private universities
Consequently, the meeting unanimously agreed to mobilize enmass and join it other 18 Northern states chapters to collaborate with other students and parents and civil society organisations in the respective states for mega meetings to decide definite courses of action that would include:
Personally petitioning traditional rulers, religious leaders, government officials, and security personnell in the respective states.
As a last option, in case of failure of these decent moves to yield positive results and ensure the reopening of Universities, we shall:
Mobilize students and parents to massive zonal protests that would entail the shutting down of activities in all states and national assemblies, all political party offices and all major highways, airways and railways.
APPRECIATION
We sincerely appreciate the state government led by H.E Governor Yahaya Bello for creating a strike free environment for the benefits of the common citizens. As no state owned institutions are on strike.
We specially appreciate Dr Nastura Ashir Shareef, the BOT of The Coalition of Northern Groups for his tireless efforts to ensure that the interests of the downtrodden and voiceless masses remains a national discourse.
We Doggedly salutes The National Leadership of CNG-SW ably superintended by Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi for the timely, dogged and proactive decision, resolve and steps taken to ensure that the plights of Northern and Nigerian Students are addressed.
I strongly commend the Zonal and State structures of the CNG-SW for the prompt response and rising to the occasion to ensure that the interest of the students are served and defended.
Yours in struggle and Nation Building,
Comr Adama Ayuba
