The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) recently commended Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, for his intervention in the protracted crisis between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government.
Few days earlier, he and the national leadership of ASUU met in Abuja over the crisis between university lecturers and the government.
NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, gave the commendation at the inauguration of the Guest House of the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non Metallic Products Employers (NUCANMPE).
Sentry recalls that after series of meetings with delegations of both ASUU and the government, Gbajabiamila announced that the crisis would soon be over in a matter of days. And true to his words, the strike was called off.
For many Nigerians, he is one man to thank for the deal that brought about an end to the eight months old strike. In recognition of his ‘peace maker’ role, the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South-West zone, also commended Mr. Speaker during the week.
The leader of the zone, Com. Fiyinfoluwa Stephen Tegbe, said the situation of university education in Nigeria calls for serious intervention which was made readily available by Gbajabiamila. He also appreciated the cooperation given by ASUU leadership, led by Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke in the discharge of his peacemaking roles.
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While many Nigerians, are still hailing the Lagos-born politician for succeeding where many others have failed, the Speaker in a move that suggests that his foray into peacemaking is not a one off, is now working hard to solve the lingering crisis that has been bedeviling the nation’s aviation sector. Sentry learnt that he already scheduled a roundtable with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor and the Minister of Finance over the crisis in the aviation sector.
It was also gathered that he had a meeting with stakeholders in the aviation sector in Abuja. Sentry learnt that the meeting was aimed at resolving the lingering aviation crisis. “While we try to look for solutions, I will plead with the foreign airlines to show some good faith and open up your portal for business to continue as usual so that Nigerians can purchase your tickets so that travelling agents can work. While you go back to status quo, we will look for how you can repatriate your funds, if it requires a special intervention or whatever, we will find a way to deal with it,” Gbajabiamila said at the meeting.
The stakeholders at the meeting included the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON), travel agencies, and other actors in the aviation industry. Not a few Nigerians are now optimistic that with Gbajabiamila, the latest peacemaker in town now interested in the crisis, good days will soon return to the sector.