FG bungled chance to end ASUU strike

SIR;The Holy writ says that "He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls" (Prov. 25:28). It continues "And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath" Eph. 6:4.

It is disheartening that when the university teachers were at the verge of calling off the strike, the minister mismanaged the whole matter. In saner climes where leaders respect agreements, ASUU would not have insisted that federal government put in writing what it had promised to do. I expected the President to understand that ASUU leadership cannot spite the office of the President. What ASUU leadership wanted was to vouchsafe the agreement because once beaten twice shy. What the minister would have done was to use wisdom and reassure ASUU leadership that the President will not renege on his promise. Frayed nerves would have been calmed. But the military style of ordering lecturers and Professors to go back to their lectures or be sacked is like pouring fuel on a flickering fire that is about to die. Lecturers are Nigerians and should not be threatened with sack as if they are strangers.

We have already noted with satisfaction the position of the Senate President that this is not the time to use force but the time to consolidate on the gains of the strike for the overall good of the education sector. We call on the Senate President to mediate once again to bring ASUU leadership and the Federal Government to seek a more humane, conciliatory and agreeable way of ending the strike. Threat to lecturers after the demise of Prof. Iyayi, is not a good way of pacifying anguishing souls of ASUU members. The President as the father of the nation should bend over backwards and still call ASUU leadership and chart an amicable solution to this almost ended strike. This new "ego" eruption on both sides will not do Nigerians, our students, parents, lecturers any good.

To show goodwill, the outstanding salaries of lecturers should be paid and after that I am sure ASUU members will reciprocate by calling off the strike. Let us not cause more brain drain by prolonging this strike through unguarded utterances. The Holy writs says "A soft answer turneth away wrath but grievous words stir up anger" Prov. 15:1. May reason prevail as we await the Federal Government to finish up the good work it has already taken very far.

• Prof G. O. Ozumba,

University of Calabar