President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has advised President Goodluck Jonathan against deploying threats to make striking university teachers return to work.
Jonathan had Friday night in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State, said the six-month old strike had spilled from trade unionism into subversion.
However, Mark said such tough talks would only worsen the situation. He spoke at the commissioning a lecture theatre for the School of management sciences at the Kano state Polytechnic donated by Senator Kabiru Gaya.
Said Mark, “Nobody, including the University teachers themselves can be said to be enjoying this crisis. It is a huge cost on government, parents, the management , staff and students of the universities. Every body agrees that the situation is bad.”
He however urged ASUU to yield to pleas from the students, parents, and the government, warning that unduly prolonging the strike might make the teachers lose the support of Nigerians.
“ASUU over the years have enjoyed the sympathy of Nigerians. I am afraid if they remain adamant on this, they would lose the sympathy and support of the people”.
Mark, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Paul Mumeh “reiterated the inevitability of quality and functional education for the survival of any nation saying that every thing needed to be done should not be compromised, to save our education sector.
“The Senate President praised Senator Gaya for building and donating the lecture theatre to the Polytechnic named after Senator David Mark.
“Senator Mark also commissioned Solar Power water bore holes donated by Senator Gaya for the Nigeria Army’s 3 Brigade Command , Bukavu Barracks , Kano; State Police Command, Bompai , Kano, Nigerian Prisons formation and Kano golf club,” the statement added.