ASUU strike: NCWS urge gov’t, ASUU to resolve lingering issues

The National President, National Council for Women Societies, Hajiya Lami Adamu Lau has urged the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to look for ways to resolve the lingering strike action that has kept students at home for more than three months.

The National President made the call at a media briefing to roll out events marking the International Day of the African Child and the Women in National Service (WINSERVE 2022) on Thursday in Abuja.

ASUU embarked on a one-month warning strike on Monday February 14, 2022, which later led to indefinite strike, to compel the Federal Government to honour the agreement it signed with the union under a Memorandum of Action (MoA) in December 2020.

Addressing journalists, Hajia Lau lamented how the Nigerian Government and ASUU executives have been insensitive on the plight of Nigerian students stressing that they (students) are now idle and redundant thereby exposing them to negative tendencies.

In an emotion laden voice, the NCWS boss however charged government at all levels to take the education of Nigerian youths seriously just the way they do with political campaigns as that’s the only way the future of the nation can be secured.

She therefore called on leaders to carry out their duties with the clear conscience and the fear of God.

“We are in a better position to be in the forefront in matters affecting Nigerians, their lives and livelihood, particularly our teeming Women and Children.

“We know Government alone cannot meet-up with the compelling needs of National and Gender Developments, so we gladly accepted to partner with FGN-NIMEC Projects Office, towards tackling such critical challenges like: Gender Violence (particularly raping), Drug Abuse, Out-of-School Children, Youth Unemployment and related social vices.

“On the issues of National Security, we are appealing to our politicians to fear God and face these problems squarely, in the same way they are facing Party Delegates. Just imagine how Billions of Tax-Payers money are squandered, in the recent weeks, during parties primaries. If issues of Security and Education are taken in like manner, Nigeria would have been a Heaven on this Earth.

“Haba! Let’s all fear Allah, and discharge our individual and official obligations. Almighty God does not sleep. We must be aware that our nation is drifting while our leaders are busy engaged in selfish and greedy political mis-adventures.

“We are also calling on the Federal Government and ASUU to please re-open our Universities, so that our children will be fully engaged. Incessant crises in our Educational Institutions are big threats to National Security.

Children’s continuous stay at home is very worrisome to us (Mothers). It makes them idle, redundant and therefore vulnerable to all forms of violence and negative tendencies.”

Speaking further on the forthcoming twin events, she said it is a burning desire of NCWS and its traditional partners to speed-up the process of implementing the United Nations Resolution on Gender Affirmative Action (Beijing 95) and the UN-Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“No wonder, therefore, we accepted to be Co-Organizers and Co-Hosts, for the laudable initiative of marking the International Day of the African Child and the forthcoming Women-In-National Service Week(WINSERVE).

“These twin-events are very significant to the promotion and defence of Women’s and Children’s Rights, in all ramifications.

“It is on record that the twin maladies of Violent Rape Against Women and Neglect of Children’s rights to existence and basic amenities like Education, Health and even Security are at their lowest ebb in Africa: In fact Nigeria has the highest Out-Of-School-Children, in the whole world!

“This is very sad, clearly worrisome and therefore, unacceptable. We are equally witnesses to widespread cases of Raping and related forms of Violence against innocent Women, mostly minors, every day on the rise, at an alarming proportion.

“This is the very essence of marking the Day of the African Child. Today, is thus a moment for sober reflection, the day to reawaken and sensitize both Governments and Non-Governmental

Institutions, to be alert to their responsibilities.

“We must begin to accord maximum priorities to fight the twin monsters of Gender Violence and shameless neglect of our Children’s rights.

“I wish to call on all State Governors, to please speed-up the process of adopting the Child Rights, must take a cognitive and collective action on this matter. It is long overdue,” she added.