President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to consider the plight of students and end its strike.
Thursday marked the 19th National Productivity Day and the presentation of the National Productivity Order of Merit.
The President also urged students in public tertiary institutions to be patient as the federal government attempts to address persistent problems in the nation’s university system within the scope of available resources.
Two days prior to Buhari’s appeal, the union extended its industrial action, accusing the government of being unwilling to meet its demands.
President Buhari presented the 2019/2020 awards to 37 individuals and 11 organisations during a ceremony held at the State House on Thursday.
So far, three-hundred and eighty-two individuals and 97 organizations have been awarded since the ceremony began in February 1991.
Among the awardees is the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu, who was honoured for his role in advancing agriculture in the country; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, for his role in the war against COVID; Doctor Chikwe Iheakweazu, former Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Others are the founder and CEO of Secure ID, Mrs Kofo Akinkugbe; the Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Allen ONYEAMA; post humor award was also given to Dr Ameyo Stella Adadevoh who died in the line of duty curbing the widespread of the Ebola virus among others.