Clark urges ASUU to reconsider strike

WARRI—FORMER Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has called on striking Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to have a rethink over the protracted strike, pleading that the action has been carried too far.
Clark wondered why the body allegedly rebuffed all entreaties and failed to listen to the voice of reason, even after the highest authorities in the land, such as President Goodluck Jonathan and other eminent Nigerians had intervened.

He made the plea yesterday, at Kiagbodo, during the visit by the National Universities Commission, NUC, to inspect the proposed Edwin Clark University of Technology, located at Kiagbodo in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.
Claiming that the strike had been politicised, he said: “Though ASUU may have a reason to embark on the strike, they are carrying it too far. Unfortunately, politics has crept into the system which is making it difficult to call off the action.”
Clark noted that when President Jonathan held a closed door meeting with ASUU they agreed to call off the action, lamenting that the lecturers later reneged on the agreement.
“Our students are suffering and our university education system is failing, hence I am appealing to ASUU to have a rethink and go back to classes,” he added.

The former senator noted that the Federal Government on its part had tried to end the strike, and urged ASUU to accept whatever government had promised to pay, adding that the rest will be settled gradually.
Prof. Essien, Chairman, Standing Committee on Private Universities, National University Commission, Abuja, extolled Clark’s virtues, describing him as a true leader.

He added that the team had inspected the proposed site of the university, stressing that they will convey their report to Abuja and later come out with a clear decision.
Essien, who also pleaded with ASUU to go back to work, added that education was the best legacy the nation could bequeath to the upcoming generation.