The speech with which President Muhammadu Buhari presented the 2017 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly on December 14 should be of interest to Nigerians beyond the fiscal details of the presentation.
This additional interest, which I consider as important as those fiscal details, arises from his hint at patriotism as a critical factor in reversing the country’s current economic woes in addition to the implementation of the budget, which he enthusiastically described as the “Budget of Recovery and Growth … designed to bring the economy out of recession and to a path of steady growth and prosperity.”
He makes a direct reference to patriotism in his remark about “those courageous and patriotic men and women who believed in Nigeria” and who “are now seeing the benefits gradually come to fruition,” having seized the opportunity provided by the current economic challenges and turned them to account with their “creativity, talents and resilience.”
But his indirect hints at patriotism as a critical factor in pulling the country out of recession and putting it on the path of sustainable economic growth afterwards are even more significant.
They remind us that “we wasted our large foreign exchange reserves to import nearly everything we consume. Our food, our clothing, our manufacturing inputs, our fuel and much more.” And that “by importing nearly everything, we provide jobs for young men and women in the countries that produce what we import, while our own young people wander around jobless.” And that “by preferring imported goods, we ensure steady jobs for the nationals of other countries, while our own farmers, manufacturers, engineers, and marketers, remain jobless.”
Then, he enthuses about the slow but sure disappearance of “that old Nigeria” and the rise of “a new era…in which we grow what we eat and consume what we make.”
In this new era, he continues, “we will increasingly grow and process our own food, we will manufacture what we can and refine our own petroleum products. We will buy ‘Made in Nigeria’ goods. We will encourage garment manufacturing and Nigerian designers, tailors and fashion retailers. We will patronise local entrepreneurs. We will promote the manufacturing powerhouses in Aba, Calabar, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Nnewi, Onitsha, and Ota. From light manufacturing to cement production and petrochemicals, our objective is to make Nigeria a new manufacturing hub.”
Yes. President Buhari has his critics some of whom he can be said to have cultivated through his actions. But I doubt that any of them can contest the sincerity of these words and the relevance of the associated propositions to solving the country’s lingering economic problems if they are implemented.
He can be summed up as saying that, regardless of our financial situation as a nation, our attitude as a people is critical to our economic survival during this period of recession, and our prosperity afterwards. We cannot be patronizing imported goods at the expense of our own, consequently starving our manufactures of funds and denying our citizens of jobs, and expect to become a self-reliant, let alone prosperous, nation.
And when I read his exhortation to buy “Made in Nigeria” goods, I recalled when the United States, during the Clinton presidency, was facing severe economic challenges with the concomitant rise of the Japanese economy in the early 1990s, with Japanese goods, especially the technological ones, seeming generally preferable to their American equivalents even to Americans.
Even the United States government countered the trend by sponsoring the “Buy American” campaign through radio jingles and whatnot. So President Buhari’s call to buy “Made in Nigeria” goods has an American precedent. And it is simply about patriotism, about putting the survival of one’s country first, like the Americans who responded positively to the “Buy American” campaign and returned to patronising American goods in preference to foreign ones.
Incidentally, this is one aspect of the budget presentation speech that can resonate with economic experts and laymen alike. Even our recent profligate past, in which we earned so much from oil without saving for the future, showing lack of patriotism on the part of those responsible, is a clear indication that financial buoyancy alone does not guarantee economic security, especially in the light of what we now face partly as a result of that profligacy, suddenly confronted with lean times and the sudden drop in the price of oil, our major revenue earner.
Without the right attitude from Nigerians and government officials who would be directing spending in implementation of the budget, without a deliberate choice to put our money where our mouth is – in our country – the N7.298 trillion 2017 budget may turn out a budget of capital flight rather than recovery and growth as the president has pronounced it.
Unfortunately, even under Buhari’s watch, the government has been negligent in following his patriotic blueprint for economic revival. Otherwise the Senate’s purchase of “108 Toyota Land Cruisers” in April this year at the cost of “N3.8 billion” should have been patronage directed at the local auto industry, which evidently needs the money for its survival and growth more than the Japanese owner of the Toyota brand. What is worse? The Senate allegedly spent twice the normal price on the vehicles!
Lack of political will has been blamed for the country’s inability to save in a time of plenty under the immediate past government. But I think that dereliction also reflects lack of moral will and patriotism on the part of those who should have ensured the savings, seeing that the supposed lack of political will did not prevent them from taking good care of themselves in their private capacities.
The same situation can recur, and prevent the implementation of Buhari’s redemptive pan-Nigerian economic blueprint as articulated in the budget speech, unless he has the political and moral will to compel government to buy “Made in Nigeria,” thereby leading by example and giving governmental justification for his administration’s mantra: Change begins with me.
Imagine the impact of Nigerians knowing that their president uses products from what he acknowledged as “the manufacturing powerhouses in Aba, Calabar, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Nnewi, Onitsha, and Ota.” Imagine the effect of their seeing him drive or be driven around in a “Made in Nigeria” car. Imagine the result of their hearing him persuade government agencies, especially those in the executive arm directly under his control, to patronise Nigerian goods as a priority, having been known to do so himself. How inspiring that would be to the cause of ensuring the country’s economic revival and subsequent growth under his watch and in accordance with his blueprint of economic patriotism!
Tag: Patriotism
-
Patriotism and the 2017 Budget
-
South Africa PDP charges Nigerians on patriotism at Christmas
The Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chapter in South Africa, Hon. Ekos Akpokabayen has appealed to Nigerians to continue to toe the path of peace, patriotism, love, selflessness, equity, and fairness during the Christmas celebration.
Akpokabayen made this appeal in his Christmas and New message said that as a nation whose “National Anthem and Pledge” deeply reflects all the ingredients that constitutes a solemn covenant, we must do away with rottenness of the heart, unforgiveness, tribalism and selfishness at all times.”
He noted that “no matter what the times are sayings, no matter the gravity of the prevalent economic hardship we presently face, we must stand firm in love, bearing in mind that this country belong no one alone but to all of us.”“In a very short time, another opportunity to make a collective choice will come and then we can once again make it right. For us, 2019 is a date with destiny.”He said that our collective progress as a nation has long been hampered by unnecessary desperate and vested interests that benefits just a few and we have to make a resolve now to nip all these on the board.
Akpokabayen, while facilitating with Nigerians at home and in diaspora, said that ” we should use this opportunity, in this season, to call on all Nigerian to join hands together in the coming year to rewrite the battered history of this great country, Nigeria.”
He also called on the Federal government to take a deeper look and reconsider the most recent ban on the importation of motor vehicles through our land borders.He said the policy is ” anti people policy targeted at the common masses of Nigeria whose only hope to own car(s) as a necessity have been dashed at a time when almost everything have become totally un-reachable due to the current economic recession.”“We condemn it in strong terms and join forces with all right thinking Nigerians who have risen up against this wicked policy to stand hard against it.”
He noted that this is the time to do everything to console our people and not to add more to their sorrowful hearts.He opined that as a diaspora chapter of PDP , “our contributions in the general political affairs of our dear nation have only remained most outstanding, going all over the world with the message of re-branding the nation of Nigeria our dearest country, our empathy with the masses of our beloved country both at hard and good times speaks for themselves.”
Akpokabayen stressed that from inception, ” we have been in the forefront of every activity that has the capacity to move Nigeria forward, lending our voices to the good and condemning the ills of our society without fear or favour.”
“Our advocacy have always centered on the enthronement of love, peace, equity, selflessness and equal rights among-st our good and great people”, he said.Akpokabayen continued; “what we preach out here and in most countries of the world where our patriotic diaspora exploits have generated so much impact is also what we bring home especially at this Christmas”.
“The entire members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South Africa Chapter uses this medium to wish all Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora a blissful Christmas and a glorious New Year (2017),” he said. -
Patriotism of penury
SIR: Nigerians have watched, alarmed and embarrassed by this latest episode of sporting dereliction made even more grotesque by the many clangers the Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung has freely dropped time and time again since he became Nigeria‘s number one sports administrator. His infamous ‘United States of Nigeria’ clanger dropped during the heroic feat of Nigeria‘s U-23 men‘s soccer team at the last Rio Olympics had hardly been forgotten when he recently greeted the Super Falcons‘ expostulations by shockingly revealing that ‘their victory was unexpected. ’
To put it in proper perspective, strange things can happen in football and the pedigree of a team making an entrée into a tournament can never guarantee victory, but where the Falcons are concerned in women‘s football in Africa, it can never amount to putting the cart of expectation before the horse of preparation if one were to reasonably hedge his bet that they would lift an AWCON they are going for. Besides, it is a team that has lifted eight out of the ten editions of the AWCON held to date, in spite of their struggles at the world stage. So what informed Dalung ‘s prognosis which has now been exposed for the hoax that it is? A singular answer wholly fits the fiddle: poor preparation and nauseating incompetence. Perhaps, the fears most Nigerians expressed when it was confirmed that Dalung, a lawyer, would head Nigeria‘s sports ministry is now gaining flesh.
Nigerians are defiant and enterprising and these qualities always glisten in the different endeavours where they have laid their hands to the plough. Sports have not been left out. The bronze medal picked up by the Nigerian U-23 men‘s soccer team during the recently concluded Rio Olympics against the man-made odds of poor logistics and even poorer provisions for remuneration best tell the story of the remarkable patriotism some Nigerians are capable of showing in spite of the cynicism beclouding the country.
This cynicism is fuelled largely by perceptions ordinary Nigerians hold of the country‘s sports administrators, which perceptions have been coloured by the puerile intrigues and corrupt tendencies of the bureaucratic hyenas which have preyed on Nigerian sports for years.
Nigeria has shown that its enormous pool of sporting talents is large enough to accommodate other countries. This is best exemplified by the various athletes of Nigerian origin that have represented other countries in global sporting events with great success. Those other countries dangling the carrots of better welfare and facilities have been able to lure many of our finest athletes to their lairs and are working assiduously hard to lure even more. This spectre does not just haunt Nigeria, other African countries where successive sports administration have been inhibited by corruption and incompetence face this nightmare.
While patriotism is rewarded with penury and the circus in our sports administration continues, may it be clearly known that in the world of sports as in all other facets of life, there is no substitute for fool-proof preparation and copper-bottomed organisation.
- Kenechukwu Obiezu,
Abuja.
-
‘Local excursions build pupil’s patriotism’
Elite schools may boast about organizing foreign trips for their pupils, however, Head of School at City of Knowledge Academy (CKA), Ijebu-Ode, Ms Abiola Lamikanra, said it is important for Nigerian children to know and be proud of their country.
To this end, she said her school, which is in its second year of existence, ensures pupils travel within Nigeria.
Ms Lamikanra, who spoke during the school’s Open Day, said it is an important part of learning and culture that contributes to all-round education that the school provides.
“Our ethical pillars are Culture, Character and Confidence. They must be proud to be Nigerians. They go for excursions. We have been to Osun State to visit the Osun/Oshogo Shrine; they have visited the Ikogosi warm and cold springs in Ekiti State. It is children that live in Lagos and school in Lagos and get on the plane to go elsewhere that have a distorted view of Nigeria. But here, they go to places in Nigeria and they learn that their country is so beautiful,” she said.
However, Ms Lamikanra said being culturally-grounded does not mean that pupils of the school cannot compete with their peers on the international stage. She said the school invests in training that leverages on the Information Communicaiton Technology (ICT).
She said: “At the beginning of this session we instructed our teachers that with the trends in education today, a lot of teaching and learning is done through technology. Our goal is to produce global citizens who can fit in anywhere in the world.
“The emphasis is on technology, Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), where students and staff can interact. We are cautious of the fact that we are running a blended curriculum. We have enlarged our classes because we now have the whole of the World Wide Web as part of our environment.
“In the classroom with the children on their net book they can access whatever they are told to do by their teachers. The teachers also go on net to find relevant information for the children or to use in class. In all this we make sure that our students are problem solvers, critical thinkers, and inquirers.”
Three pupils of the school, Sanaa Akindele (Year Eight), Zainab Lawal (Year 9), and Michael Momoh (Year 7) conducted visitors on a tour the school’s expansive facilities.
Sanaa, 12, said she was enjoying the school because of the way the teachers help pupils to understand whatever they are taught.
“It has changed me for the better in my studies, especially Mathematics. When I came to this school, I did not like Maths but now it is very easy,” she said.
Her Mathematics Teacher, Mr Joseph Osisanya, said he teaches in such a way that encourages the pupils to learn on their own.
“I have evolved methods of teaching my students how to work maths instead of teaching maths. During class, I give individual attention. The highflyers, I give tasks; for those lagging behind, I move close to them so they can catch up. We have won two awards in two years of existence,” she said.
A parent, Mrs Nkechi Ezeibube, said she came all the way from Onitsha to enroll her twins, Santos and Nmesoma because she and her husband sought a school that could deliver superior education, which they believed was more readily available in the Southwest than in the Southeast.
“We wanted our children to come to the west because I hear so much about the west and how they study. I want them to come here and challenge their brains,” she said.
-
Making a case for patriotism
Iowadays, it is becoming understandable why many people do not feel a sense of patriotism whenever our National Anthem is being recited. Rather than being patriotic, many people tend to question the lines of the anthem. This may be because of the way the affairs of the country are being run.
What has become of the country from the way and manner the government treats the citizens have given valid reasons for some people to ask questions about the continuous existence of the nation.
Like all emotions, patriotism comes from within. Whether we are rational or not, we are reaping the benefit of some people’s sense of patriotism. These are our founding fathers and soldiers who fought to keep this country united.
From my observation of happenings in the Nigeria today, most people no longer respect our national anthem and the national flag. In some cases, I have seen citizens sitting, walking, moving or even dancing while the national anthem is been played or recited. While the first stanza of the anthem urged us to rise up whenever it is being recited, most people would rather want to sit or do something that would be in anathema to aim of the anthem.
I believe this attitude of our fellow citizens toward the national anthem and the national flag can be traced to bad governance and corruption in the system. The country’s resources have been mismanaged and kept away from the majority by a few privileged countrymen. Since the masses do no longer benefit from their God-given resources, many are of the opinion that they don’t need to feel the urge to believe in government and the country.
In advanced democracies, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, citizens are ready to die for their countries. It is not an expression of thoughtless patriotism that is making them to stand up for their countries, but because their countries and their leaders protect their interest wherever they may be on earth. This makes these citizens to be loyal and willing to do anything to protect the interest and integrity of their countries.
I cannot imagine the anthem of the United States being played anywhere and an American citizen will pay no attention or disrespect it.
Our countrymen must know that it is high time we began to respect to our national anthem and flag. Let us drop all acts that have made us to show a great disrespect to our identity.
Let see this as a contract. We feel safe at our homes, office and transact businesses freely because some people were patriotic enough to defend us and territory. These people swore to protect our lives with their lives, whether the threat comes from burglars, armed robbers, terrorist or even natural disaster. The one and only thing that would make them take such a drastic oath is patriotism.
When we treat our national anthem and flag with utmost respect, we are somewhat satisfying our side of the contract. Therefore, when we stop respecting our nation while still expecting to be protected like any other citizen, we are nothing but a hypocrite. Let us patriotic and promote patriotism through our actions and spoken words.
Tolulope is a Corps member, NYSC Birin Kebbi
-
Monarch advises Nigerians on patriotism
The Asiwaju of Ipokia Kingdom, Otunba (Chief) Babajide Titus, has urged Nigerian leaders to remain focused and let the love of the country be uppermost in their minds.
He said the greatest hope of the country is to be on same pedestrial with advanced countries such as United States, Britain, London etc, and can be achieved through shunning and avoiding politics of crisis, bloodshed and assassination.
Otunba, made the appeal while celebrating his birthday at his country home, Ajegunle, Idiroko in Ipokia Local Government Area, Ogun State.
Important dignitaries from far and near both within and outside the country stormed his residence in exotic cars in Otunba Titus Babajide (JP) Street, Idiroko, to rejoice with him and his household for the event.
Speaking with The Nation, he said “All glory and adoration returns to the Lord, for added another year to my life and for keeping me and family alive in sound health.
He gave thanks to the God, and however, pledged his loyalty to Him for the rest of his life.
Babajide, appealed to Nigerian leaders to shun do-or-die politics, noting is practical demonstration of love that can lift the country
“Nigerians should learn how to support whoever becomes winner of any election and contribute our quotas to build an enduring nation,” he said.
He urged youths to avoid being used by politicians as a ladder to grab powers during the coming elections.
He urged them to say no to lawlessness, thugerry and all forms of violence in 2015 election.”
As a member of Special Marshal in Ogun State, he advised motorists to always check their vehicles before embarking on a journey to avoid preventable accidents on the road.
He thanked Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun for constructing and rehabilitating roads in the state, he is working for everyone to enjoy dividend of democracy.
He urged drivers to maintain discipline while on the wheels and ensure safety of every road user.
The Lagos and Ogun Zonal Commanding Officer, Mr Godwin Ogagaoghene, thank the Otunba for his support for FRSC.
Present at the event were: Idiroko Unit Commander of FRSC, Mr David Irunoje, the Zonal Public Education Officer, Mr Olusegun Ogungbemide, the Unit Public Education Officer/Protocol, Mr Niyi Niniola, Director, Ogun State National Tax Force, Alhaji Fatai Isiaka and many political stalwarts.
-
First Lady seeks patriotism
First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan has urged Nigerians, especially those in government and politics, to be exemplary in their conduct.
She advised other Nigerians to cultivate good attitude and exhibit righteousness to enable all build a virile nation.
The First Lady spoke at the Wise Men Conference of the Christian Pentecostal Mission International in Ajao Estate, Lagos, through the Special Adviser to the President o Ethics and Values, Dr Sarah Jubril.
-
Bomb Blast: Group commends doctors for patriotism
A non governmental organization (NGO), under the aegis of Health Initiative Forum (HIF), yesterday in Kano, commended Resident Doctors in Kano and Kaduna states who voluntarily went back to work following the bomb blasts that rocked the two ancient cities.
It will be recaled that the Resident Doctors Association of Nigeria had on July 1 embarked on strike to press home their demands to the government.
Moved by the level of casualties recorded during the bomb attacks, the doctors decided to temporarily call off the strike for the sake of the blast victims.
HIF praised the show of patriotism on the part of the professionals, adding that their swift reactions saved many lives that were having life threatening injuries.
Chairman of the group, Alhaji Bala Danladi, during a chat with reporters, observed the human feeling in the hearts of the doctors that participated in the rescue operations and their leadership in the affected states.
“Despite their perennial disagreement with the Federal Government, these doctors believe that the strike action should not stop them from showing love to Nigerians under such emergency situations.
“We also believe that Nigerian doctors are not enemies of Nigerians as some elements were trying hard to make us believe. They love us and they still believe with the government genuine intervention in the health sector many things would improve according to international best practices,” he stated.
While commending the widely circulated statement of the President of the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD), Dr Jibril Abdullahi, immediately after the happening of Kaduna blasts, the group urged federal government to make a second thought in her stand on the doctors’ demands.
The group also said that they were impressed by the immediate action taken by the Kano branch chairman of NARD, Dr. Shamsudeen Mashi, who decided to call off the strike for the sake hapless Nigerians who were involved in the terror attack.
According to Danladi, “the group learnt that immediately after the incidence of the New Road motor park, the Kano branch chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Sharfuddeen Mashi, confirmed to journalists that doctors were directed to go to the hospital and rescue victims.
“This is a patriotic posture to the core from the part of doctors. We should therefore request government to also genuinely understand the critical work of our dear doctors in the country. Anything short of heeding to doctors’ demands will not augur well for the health sector in the country.
“It is from the part of the government that you come to reluctant postulations in terms of respecting and fulfilling provisions of agreements reached by the two parties.”
-
Leadership’s one-way patriotism
SIR: Over the years, citizens have been subdued and blackmailed into submission by terms like patriotism and sacrifice. The government is always quick to ask citizens to sacrific’ for the sake of the nation, while they make no sacrifices at all. Recall that during the OccupyNigeria protests in January 2012, the government asked Nigerians to endure and make sacrifices to enjoy in the future. The same government went on to budget two billion naira for feeding the President and his vice.
As in the current ASUU/FG imbroglio, ASUU has been told to give the government the benefit of the doubt. We ask; for how long? This government has shown itself to be one of the most deceitful in the history of this nation. Recall that in 2011, when they first raised the issue of subsidy removal, when the government met with labour groups, it was agreed that the removal issue will not be raised until sometime around June/July after due sensitisation has been carried out and palliative measures put in place. On New Year’s Day, Nigerians were greeted with the news that shook the tiny frame of the nation and cut short whatever celebrations people had planned: government had jerked up fuel price. We then ask, a government that has engaged itself in such brazen acts of deceit, can it be trusted?
The government keeps claiming that there’s no money to develop the nation’s educational sector, health sector, etc, yet the President’s foreign trips, which he promised to reduce, has rather increased as he seems to have found solace in other people’s countries as against the one he was elected to run.
It is irresponsible of a government that has shown itself to lack the political will to tackle corruption and mismanagement to keep demanding patriotism and sacrifices from citizens. Under this government, we’ve had Lawangate, Oduahgate, pension scams (twice), including the petroleum ministry’s regular and consistent scams.
What has the government done to checkmate all these? Should sacrifices only be made by the led and not the leaders?
Nigerians have made enough sacrifices. Nigerians have endured for long enough. Nigerians have watched impunity take the driver’s seat in the affairs of our nation. Nigerians have watched as undemocratic acts reign supreme in a so-called democratic setting. If there’s going to be sacrifice, it should now be made by the leaders, not the led. Let them begin by sacrificing the sacred cows that are in government. Let them show patriotism by bringing their kids back to this nation to study rather than send them off to foreign lands while our schools rot down here. Let them begin by receiving treatment for their ailments here rather than flying off to other lands in search of good health. Let them sacrifice the unconstitutional roles of the first lady and stop using our money to finance her excesses. We are done with making sacrifices; there’s nothing left to sacrifice.
• Ogunjimi James Taiwo
Ikeja, Lagos
-
Jonathan to ASUU: Temper anger with patriotism
•Students protest on Niger Bridge
From President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday came a fresh appeal to the striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to end their four- month- old action.
“The collective destiny of tens of thousands of tomorrow’s leaders should not be held hostage to vagaries of labour disputes. As long as we are humans, as long as we are a developing society, this labour dispute must come up,” Jonathan said at the maiden convocation of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) and the inauguration of the university’s College of Engineering Complex.
The three-storey college complex was named after the President.
He said whatever may be the grievances of the lecturers, keeping students out of school for four months is an overkill and urged them to ponder on the adverse effect of their action on the future of the youths.
According to the President: “I always say that even in the developed societies ,we hear about labour dispute and there is no society, even the most developed, that has provided the facilities for every worker.
“Our security services, the Police, the Armed Forces, Navy, Air Force and para-military, intelligence services are also operating in an environment that is not the best.
“If all of us should go on long strike because our environment is not at its optimum, then definitely we can never get the Nigeria of our dream.”
Responding to comments by Governor Kayode Fayemi and the founder of the University, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) on federal roads and an airport in Ekiti State, the President promised to facilitate a meeting between the Aviation Minister and the Governor.
He also said efforts will be made to ensure the release of a sum of N400 million, which has been set aside in the 2013 budget.
Jonathan described ABUAD College of Engineering as “a masterpiece and a challenge to individuals, faith-based and non- governmental organisations to join hands in building Nigeria that would be a pride of all.”
The governor had appealed to the President to redeem the sum of N12 billion owed the state by the Federal Government on the renovation of federal roads in the State.
According to Fayemi, Ekiti has only been paid N2 billion of the N14 billion spent on the roads.
Aare Babalola said N60 billion has been invested in the institution and appealed to the Federal Government to support serious private universities, especially in the area of research.
In another development, about 5000 undergraduates from different public universities, on Friday, disrupted economic activities at the Asaba end of the River Niger Bridge during a protest over ASUU strike.
It was their second protest since the strike began.
A traffic grid lock stretching over 6 kilometers on the ever-busy Benin-Onitsha expressway ensued after angry students prevented them from leaving Delta State.
Motorists had to make detours to avoid the students who were chanting solidarity songs.
Tagged: “100 Days plus, ASUU’s Unending Strike”, the protesters were led by the National President of NANS, Comrade Yinka Gbadebo and his counterpart in the National Association of Polytechnics Students (NAPS), Comrade Salahadau Lukman.
The unionists condemned their undue stay at home, wondering why ASUU was always using students to settle scores with the Federal Government.
“Who will pay us for disruptions in our academic calendar? Our parents are tired, we too are also tired. Why are lecturers in state universities on strike against the FG? Is FG equally responsible for infrastructures in state universities? What are the real demands of ASUU,” they chorused.
They denied that the protest was sponsored by the Federal Government and queried why ASUU was demanding for transfer of landed property via the union’s holdings.
Hailing the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan for offering over N40 billion to ASUU for the first time in the history of tertiary educations in Nigeria, the NANS president wondered why ASUU took the law into its hand and failed to seek redress in court.
Gbadebo appealed to ASUU to receive the N40 billion dangled by the Federal Government and call off the strike for the sake of posterity.