ASUU STRIKE: ASUU interacts with key stakeholders in Zaria

By Halliru Hamza

As the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, strike lingering into five months,a stakeholders meeting was convened to interact and educate the public on the rationale behind the strike action.

The meeting was organized by the Kano zone of Academic Staff Union of Universities in Zaria.

The zonal coordinator, ASUU Kano zone, Mr Abdulkadir Mohammed said the meeting was organized to interact with key stakeholders and educate the public on the rationale behind the strike action.

He added that the meeting was also aimed at obtaining feedback from critical stakeholders.

He said the meeting urged traditional leaders, religious bodies and other key stakeholders to intervene towards ending the impasse between the Union and the government.

Mohammed said ASUU is not happy to go on strike unless it became inevitably necessary and and only meant to save the university system in Nigeria.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University zaria, professor Kabir Bala has lamented over the socio-economic impact of prolong ASUU strike to the economy of the host communities and infrastructure at the University.

He said government, ASUU and other stakeholders should look at the impact of what was happening to the socio-economic fabric of the society due to the prolong strike action by the Union.

He said ABU had over 30,000 students and if each student had to spend at least #300 on feeding and if multiply the amount by the number of the students it will give to the amount that is missing.

The Vice Chancellor said stoppage of the salary of over 13,000 staff of the university is another effect of the strike were their dependants will find it difficult to over come the shock.

According to Kabir Bala, the strike has an implications on the infrastructure in the university such as lecture theatres, classrooms and laboratories and others places.

Also in his remarks,Alh Munir Jafaru, District Head of Basawa said Nigerians should revert to prayers and divine interventions towards solutions to myriad of challenges bedeviling many parts of the country.

He suggested for a compelling public office holders to send their wards to public schools towards enhancing funding for the schools.