Treat ASUU strike as matter of urgent public importance, Prof tells FG

The Federal government has been urged to treat the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) by treating it as a matter of urgent national importance.

The fifth Waziri of Katsina, Professor Sani Abubakar Lugga, made the appeal in Katsina while speaking as a guest speaker at the graduation ceremony and annual lecture series of the Katsina Vocational training Centre.

Prof. Lugga, who spoke on a topic “Youth, unemployment, security and the 2023 elections” said unemployment was the mother of all the youth restiveness in parts of the country.

“So long as the children of some will be completing their studies abroad while the children of the masses are roaming the street for seven, eight months with nothing to do. So long as the university lecturers will be left in hunger with their families without salaries, then the danger ahead is more than that of Boko Haram and its likes.”

“Because Boko Haram and other terrorists are known by their locations, with political will, they could be fished out and dealt with. But these hungry people I am talking about are everywhere and they decide to revolt, the leaders cannot handle it,” he said.

Others contributed at the event chaired by the Vice Chancellor, Federal University Dutsinma (FUDMA), Prof Armaya’u Bichi, including the INEC administrative Secretary in Katsina, Musa Magaji Gumi, who spoke on the role of youth in ensuring credible elections in 2023.

The vocational centre, run by Malam Danjuma Katsina, was established by late Inspector General of Police, Alhaji MD Yusuf, over 20 years ago. Two hundred beneficiaries graduated at the event and were given take-off grants, ranging from cash to other implements such as sewing and knitting machines.