Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker House of Representatives, has retraced his steps and apologised to Nigerian students over his tweet celebrating his academic pursuits outside the country, while Nigerian students languish at home as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) continues its indefinite strike.
The Lawmaker tweeted, “one is never too old to learn, broaden or sharpen your skills“, and attached photos of himself seated with other scholars at the Harvard Kennedy School, a school that offers post-graduate courses in Governance.
Gbajabiamila, in complete contrition, tweeted an apology directed at Nigerian students, parents and citizens at large. He wrote,
“That post was not sensitive to the present feelings of fellow citizens, especially parents and students who are presently bearing the brunt of the ongoing closure of public universities owing to the unresolved issues between the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
Additionally, he stated his commitment to the advancement of Education, his personal efforts to avert the strike and his continued contributions to the sector in his constituency of Surulere I, Lagos state.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities commenced strike action in February, 2022, over the Federal Government’s failure to pay minimum wage arrears, amongst other things. Five months later, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) embarked on a two-day nationwide strike and protest against the ongoing ASUU strike.
In another development, the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai has threatened the sack of Kaduna State University (KASU) lecturers who partake in the strike. He explained that Nigeria’s law says ‘no work, no pay’ so whoever joins the strike will not be paid a salary.
Story: Makcit Rindap
Media: @FemiGbaja/Twitter