Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau Thursday held talks with the national leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) led by the president Comrade Chibuzor Asumogha over the lingering strike by the union which is now in the 11th month.
Mallam Shekarau said that the meeting being his first official engagement on assumption of office was necessary to bring the issue of the lingering strike to the front burner. He described polytechnic education as the engine room of technological development, stressing that even one lecture lost by students for whatever reason is a setback that could hardly be regained.
The Minister appealed to the striking lecturers to return to the classroom, assuring that everything possible would be done to passionately address the demands made by the union.
He however noted with regret that previous assurances failed to yield desired result, but urged the union to encourage him by calling-off the strike while actions continue on the demands.
Earlier, the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Comrade Chibuzor Asumogha briefed the Minister on the agreements reached between the Government and the union since 2012 which he said had not been implemented. This is even as he provided a comprehensive briefing on the demands of the Union and the various steps taken so far.
Comrade Chibuzor equally expressed confidence in the Minister to demonstrate compassion in dealing with the demands of the union.
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