ASUU-FG feud: UNIUYO students demand dismissal of education minister over incompetence
By Benjamin Jimmy
Some students of the University of Uyo have criticized the Hon. Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, for his role in the on going negotiation between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and the federal government, calling on President Buhari to immediately remove him from office.
The students, who made the call last Thursday in a chat with our reporter in Uyo, said the Minister had not shown enough patriotism towards resolving the impasse, and therefore, urged President Buhari to take actions immediately.
The students were making the call against the backdrop of the recent media reports where the Minister had walked out on the National Association of Nigerian Students ( NANS) delegates who visited him in his office to seek for the inclusion of the Nigerian students in the on going ASUU- federal government negotiations.
A student of the Department of Philosophy, Aniekan Michael said it was sad that the Minister could demonstrate such a nonchalant attitude towards the future of the Nigerian students, wondering why most Nigerian leaders do not prioritize the future of the leaders of tomorrow.
“The action of the minister is quite insulting and belittling to every Nigerian student. It shows how nonchalant he is, to the ongoing strike”.
Another student in the Department of Political Science, Umoh Felicia said it was not surprising that the Minister could treat issues concerning the Nigerian students with such frivolity, accusing him of being indifferent towards all efforts aimed at resolving the impasse.
“Why will the Minister not walk out on the NANS delegates, after all, he is not directly affected by the strike since his children study abroad. This portrays his indifference in responding to ASUU’s requests”.
Reacting to the development, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in a statement on Thursday, demanded an apology from the Minister and his immediate resignation for what it described as “ a display of arrogance”.
“By arrogantly insulting and refusing to attend to the member of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Adamu Adamu recklessly abdicated his duties and exhibited an unpardonable discourteousness unfitting of a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, let alone a Minister of Education.
“Our Party insists that Adamu Adamu’s action is an assault and embarrassment to the nation’s education sector “”.
While urging the students not to relent in their demands, the Party called on President Buhari to sack Adamu and appoint a new Minister of Education from the array of qualified academicians and seasoned administrators “who can understand and effectively manage our education sector.”
It would be recalled that the Hon. Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu had on last Thursday, walked out on NANS delegates during a meeting with students body on the grounds of what he termed “unruly behaviour of the delegates.
According to reports, the Minister had told the delegates of the efforts of the federal government in resolving all contentious issues before he staged a walk-out on them.
“Since the commencement of the ASUU Strike, there is nothing the government has not done to help the situation. So, instead of coming here, you should have addressed your lecturers there.
” Perhaps the only point worthy of attention that you have made, is you said, students should be involved in this, and I think probably, this is a very good thing, and it is the only thing I am going to take out of everything you have said here”.
The NANS delegates led by the president, Sunday Asefon, had, in an interview with newsmen at the end of the meeting, told journalists that NANS was seeking for approval to be included in the on going negotiation as a stakeholder in the education sector.
“” There must be revitalisation of the institutions and the students should be part of every discussion between the federal government and ASUU. The federal government and ASUU should find an equilibrium to meet, and call off the strike while negotiation continues, as it is only the students that bear the brunt of every strike action”.
“So, you can now see that we do not have a minister. The minister must be sacked. He must go.
” The minister has not provided adequate funding for the universities, and the education ministry is falling under Adamu’s watch”.
Reports show that the education minister walked out on the NANS delegates, without responding to their requests.
According to him, ” since the commencement of the ASUU strike, there is nothing the government has not done to help the situation. So instead of coming here, you should have addressed your lecturers there “.
” Perhaps the only point worthy of attention that you have made, is you said, students should be involved in this, and I think probably, this is a very good thing, and it is the only thing I am going to take out of everything you have said here “.
Responding to this, Sunday Asefon said, ” so you can now see that we do not have a minister. The minister must be sacked. HE MUST GO “.
” The minister has not provided adequate funding for the universities, and the education ministry is falling under Adamu’s watch “.
Speaking to our correspondents, a student of the department of Philosophy, Aniekan Michael said, ” the action of the minister is quite insulting and belittling to every Nigerian student. It shows how nonchalant he is, to the ongoing strike “.
A student of the department of Political Science, Umoh Felicia opined that, ” why will the minister not walk out on the NANS delegates, afterall, he is not directly affected by the strike since his children study abroad. This portrays his indifference in responding to ASUU’s requests”.
Reacting to the development, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Thursday, also demanded the apology and immediate resignation of the minister of education, for “abusing and walking out on Nigerian students who went to his office to plead for his intervention to end the ongoing ASUU strike “”.
PDP held that, “by arrogantly insulting and refusing to attend to the member of the National Association of Nigerians Students, Adamu Adamu recklessly abdicated his duties and exhibited an unpardonable discourteousness unfitting of a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, let alone a minister of education””.
“Our Party insists that Adamu Adamu’s action is an assault and embarrassment to the nation’s education sector “”.
While urging the students not to relent in their demands, the Party called on President Buhari to sack Adamu and appoint a new minister of education from the array of qualified academicians and seasoned administrators “who can understand and effectively manage our education sector.”
