The Minister of State for Education, Dr Tanko Sununu, has appealed to students, parents, and lecturers in public tertiary institutions to shun acts capable of disrupting the academic calendar ahead of school resumption.
Sununu made the call during a courtesy visit from the leadership of the Congress of University Academics on Wednesday in Abuja.
The minister stated that exercising prudence would be in the best interests of all stakeholders as well as the system’s stability.
He stated that his ministry is engaged in “constructive dialogue and consultation with stakeholders regarding the welfare of students and staff, as well as the provision of infrastructure in the nation’s tertiary institutions.”
While acknowledging that strike action and disuse of facilities could lead to rapid decay, Sununu promised “President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to avoid any situation that could lead to further industrial actions.”
The President of CONUA, Niyi Sunmonu, expressed fear of possible unrest in public tertiary institutions in the wake of the new increase in school fees, saying it had the potential to disrupt academic activities and the school calendar.
Sunmonu also appealed to the government to look into ways of improving the condition of service of academic and non-academic staff of universities, which he said had deteriorated due to the petroleum subsidy removal.
He added that there was a need to revisit the issue of the eight-month salary arrears that arose from the last strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, arguing that members of CONUA did not go on strike.