ASUU strikes stall varsities’ progress –Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said industrial actions, by universities’ unions, are inimical to the health  and progress of the  university system  in Nigeria.

Buhari said  the action was worrisome and disheartening, at the 41st convocation ceremony of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, at the weekend.

“It is only when there is peace and stability,  that government is able to consolidate the  gains  and  successes  recorded  in the advancement of higher  education in this country.”

Represented by the Executive Secretary of the  Nigerian Universities Commission, Prof. Abubakar Rashid,  the president  said  industrial actions cause  loss of  time in learning hours  by  young men and women; in their  quest  to  graduate  and  join  the nation-building.

 “I am appealing to leadership  and rank  and file of all Universities base unions to be more  sensitive  in their pursuit  of welfare  and other demands  in the University.”

According to him,  since assumption of  office, his administration has accorded  and continue to   invest substantially  in the education  sector.

He said despite  finance challenges ,  the federal government  has not relented in its determination to ensure that education was revitalised to gaining access to global civilization  in the twenty – first century.

On the award of honourary degrees to Alhaji Aliko Dangote and  Hassan Sunmonu, Buhari said  the awards were well deserved, considering the contributions of two  personalities to the  socio-economic development of the country.

Earlier, vice chancellor of the University, Prof. Ibrahim Garba, said   81 got first class, 2,043 second class upper , 6,885  second class lower, 1,502, third class, 114  pass, and 178 unclassified,” he said.