Wase, who presided over the plenary on Wednesday, directed the House Committees on Education and Labor to settle the crisis, failing which the parliament’s leadership will intervene.

At the close of the plenary, Wase said, “There is something that is still left out and I want to use (this opportunity) and beg our Chairmen of Committees on Labour and Education to expedite action on the resolution of the crisis in the education industry. This will go a long way in helping our citizens.

“I want to beg that, please, let us do the right thing so that we resolve the matter as quickly as possible. The House has intervened in a number of issues and I think it would not be too much if we can resolve this within a short period of time…or for the leadership to intervene if there is not much progress. I pray that there is very excellent progress, moving ahead.”

On Tuesday, Senate President Ahmad Lawan announced the Senate will interfere in the protracted issue by bringing the two parties back to the negotiating table.

Lawan made the promise to the National Association of Nigerian Students’ executives, who were escorted to his office by Methodist Bishop Dr. Sunday Onuoha.

Protesting Students Shut Down The Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway

Students in Ogun state barricaded the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway on Wednesday to protest the ASUU strike.

The students, under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Ogun State Joint Campus Committee, invaded the Obada axis of the highway with placards chanting anti-government songs.

“End ASUU Strike Now,” “Enough is Enough,” “Nigerian Students are Suffering,” and “FG Listen to ASUU” were among the posters held by the demonstrators.

The protest left, many motorists were stranded and travelers were trapped.

Speaking on behalf of the students, the state chairman of NANS, Kehinde, Simeon, warned that the extension of the strike would worsen the nation’s security challenges.

He said, “It is unfortunate that the Federal government is playing politics with the lives of Nigerian students. We have been clamoring from time past ever since the commencement of this ASUU strike that something should be done with immediate effect, but it is obvious that both the Federal government and ASUU have decided to turn deaf ears to our agitations.”

Buhari’s Chief Of Staff, Ngige To Meet With ASUU Representatives

The Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Agboola Gambari, will chair a meeting between the government and ASUU, on Thursday as well as all other registered trade unions in Nigerian universities, with the Minister for Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.

Identified interest groups and civil organizations will also be present at the gathering.

In an invitation to the media, the ministry’s Head, Press and Public Relations, Olajide Oshundun,  indicated that Gambari will be chair the meeting.

The message read, “The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, will host a Tripartite-Plus meeting between the government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities and other registered trade unions in Nigerian universities, as well as identified interest groups and civil societies, on the on-ongoing industrial actions by the trade unions.

“The Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Agboola Gambari, will chair the meeting.”