Crisis must be resolved to prevent collapse of university system – Ganduje tells protesting unions

Jhe Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, says the lingering crisis between the Nigerian government and University Academic Staff Union (ASUU) must be resolved to save university education in the country.

The Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) Kano chapter joined nationwide protest on Tuesday in solidarity with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) which has been on strike since February.

Solidarity protests in Kano, which began at the NLC State Office on Katsina Road in Fagge, ended at the Kano government headquarters.

Mr Ganduje, addressing the striking unions at Government House, said the crisis must be resolved to prevent a collapse in higher education.

“This crisis must be resolved to help save the system. We don’t want the system to collapse in this country at all,” Ganduje said.

He said teachers were on strike to prevent the system from collapsing.

The governor also sympathized with students across the country who have not learned in six months.

“I and my colleagues from all 36 states, regardless of our party differences, are concerned about the extension of the strike and will work together to end the crisis,” the governor said.

In his remarks, the president of the Kano branch of the NLC, Kabiru Ado, praised Mr. Ganduje for paying professors in public universities in Kano despite the strike.

“We appreciate the state government under your capable leadership, People’s Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for your magnanimous approach in not stopping the salaries of teachers at two state universities.

“It shows that you are a pro-education governor,” Mr. Ado said.

ASUU and other unions in the education sector have gone on strike over the government’s alleged failure to honor an agreement reached with the union on better social protection for its members and more funding for universities.