President Bola Tinubu, in a decisive move to avert potential crises, has vowed to prevent any future university strikes, focusing on enhancing student welfare and educational stability. Following the recent cancellation of the controversial deduction of 40% of Internally Generated Revenues (IGRs) from federal universities, Tinubu emphasized his administration’s commitment to ensuring constructive dialogue and negotiations to avoid actions that could negatively impact Nigerian students.
Addressing concerns at the 33rd convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Tinubu stressed the necessity for synergy between academic unions and the federal government. Represented by Prof. King-David Terna Yawe, a former President of West Africa College of Surgeon (WACS) and a visiting Professor of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Tinubu underscored the importance of cooperation to foster peace across campuses.
Expressing the government’s dedication to addressing challenges within the education sector, Tinubu urged university unions to collaborate, ensuring an atmosphere of tranquility and productivity. He highlighted the government’s commitment to implementing motivational measures for enhanced productivity while expecting reciprocal actions from universities.
Tinubu asserted that dialogue, patience, and positive engagements stand as preferable approaches for achieving results over strike actions. Emphasizing that industrial disharmony disrupts academic calendars, he urged exhausting all avenues for dialogue before considering strikes as a last resort.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by higher educational institutions, Tinubu assured Nigerians of the government’s frantic efforts to holistically address these issues, aiming to reposition and revitalize the country’s education sector.
