By Former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, has tendered a public apology to Nigerian students over the ongoing strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
It would be recalled that the union recently extended the industrial action which commenced in February by another three months, as thousands of students are currently at home with their academic aspirations hanging in the balance.
During his appearance on Channel TV‘s Politics Today on Sunday, Nwajiuba revealed that his two children were also affected by the strike.
The APC presidential hopeful noted that he shares in the responsibility for the situation, but noted that strikes are not the best approach for ASUU to address its grievances.
“I do apologise to Nigerian students because as their minister, I will take responsibility. But also, on behalf of the federal government, I would say ‘please understand what the issues are’.
“All my four children have passed through Nigerian universities. I still have two who are at home now, because they are all in public universities,” he said.
Nwajiuba argued that though he understands the plight of the striking lecturers, they should return back to the classrooms to save the future of the students.
The ex-minister added, “My position has not been that ASUU is talking rubbish. ASUU has a case, they are not making a case for themselves alone. ASUU is making a case for the entire university system.
“The only point of departure is that we have asked ASUU that strikes can’t cure the problem.
“We need them in class, we need our children back in school. It hurts parents. It hurts us. Like I keep saying, my children are here, I don’t have children in private universities. My wife and them are battling it at home.”
