The Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Nanah Opiah, has reassured that the federal government is committed to ending the ongoing strike action of the Academic Staff Union of the Nigerian Universities (ASUU).
Opiah made the disclosure during a meeting with Women in Politics (WIP) when visited his office to discuss the strike challenges in tertiary institutions in the country and other matters connected to national politics.
According to him, given the charge of President Muhamadu Buhari concerning ending the industrial dispute, all relevant stakeholders involved in the resolution have moved into action and are working towards achieving a positive result.
The delegation led by its Matron, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, (Iyaloja General of Nigeria) and Hajia Mariah Danjuma, the Director-General, the minister said the directive of the president on ending the strike action is being carried out and in no distant time, the dispute shall be resolved.
Also part of the entourage was the WIP Secretary, Fatima Abubakar. Others include the PRO and state coordinators of Akwa Ibom and Benue States.
Lending support to the activities of the group, Opiah stated that the ministry is collaborating with genuine efforts of groups and non-governmental organisations in the development of the education sector, adding that the visit will spur his ministry to do more for the system.
He also used the opportunity to inform the group that the APC administration under President Buhari’s watch means well for the people, hence his desire to support the WIP and call on other well-meaning groups to join forces at ensuring that the party’s candidates – Tinubu/Shettima ticket – becomes the best option for the country come next general elections.
Earlier, during opening speeches, the group hinted that they came to commend the minister on his efforts at ensuring students return to their various campuses within the shortest possible time, nothing that “it’s imperative as mothers, aunties and sisters to also request that effort is redoubled in making academic related strike actions a past in Nigeria as education remains the bedrock for development in any economy.”
Commending the minister for granting them audience within a short notice, Tinubu-Ojo, said that the WIP is a women-based organisation/support group involved in advocacy for women participation in politics with view to bringing to the fore ideas that would propel the Tinubu/Shettima presidential project to success.
She stated that further to the WIP agenda is the identification of avenues of collaboration and synergy with regards to the actualisation of a BATified administration.
