The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, has called on the Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian universities to assist the Federal government in ending the prolonged strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), since February this year.

Rasheed, who made the call at the opening session of the 2022 management retreat with Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian universities, expressed worry over the effects of the strike on the students, Nigeria’s economy as well as the reputation of the nation’s universities.

According to him, the commission was determined to promote dialogue and constructive engagement with critical stakeholders in the sector, to see a crisis-free university system.

He said: “Our universities have been confronted with uncertainties due to the unfortunate strike, ASUU strike is in the six month and as Vice-Chancellors, we know the negative consequences of the prolonged closure of universities, we know what it means in terms of its effect on the economy of a nation, as Vice-Chancellors we know what it means in terms of our institutional reputation and the future of our youths.

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“University education is fundamental to success and a nation’s economy, nations explore teaching, research and community development for aspiration of goals. Nigerian universities must fulfill their primary roles and fulfill their extant laws.”.

Prof Rasheed noted that the retreat would feature a wide range discussion of issues from challenges to solutions while the Vice-Chancellors which would also allow the Vice-Chancellors to come up with recommendations that could help strengthen the Nigerian university system.

On his part, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, who stressed that parts of the challenges created by COVID 19 were paucity of funds, said the development contributed in no small measures to the smooth funding of the nation’s universities.

Represented by the Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opiah, the minister tasked the Vice-Chancellors to help the government in repositioning the nation’s universities.

The Star