Following the threats issued by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to embark on a nationwide industrial action, Nigerian lawmakers have mandated the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to promptly intervene on behalf of the Federal Government to dialogue with ASUU.

The Senate equally commended ASUU for choosing dialogue over confrontation in its approach and promised that proper funding of universities would be put into the 2017 Budget.

This followed a Point of Order raised by Senator Jibrin Barau of Kano North during the plenary on Tuesday, where he told lawmakers that he “heard that ASUU has given notice of one week industrial action.”

Senator Barau led motion on the urgent matter of national importance, regarding the impending ASUU strike, pointing out that ASUU is agitating for the smooth operations of Nigerian universities and staff welfare.

In his motion, Barau also reminded the Senate of the non-implementation of several agreements between FG and ASUU.

A lawmaker representing Gombe Central, Senator Danjuma Goje, who supported the motion, reminded the Senate of the problems that Nigerian undergraduates undergo when lecturers go on strike, and charged the Nigerian Senate to rise to the occasion so as to avoid the impending industrial strike action of ASUU.

Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, in his comment, also maintained that the Senate, as a stabilizing arm, should immediately intervene to avoid the strike.

He however, challenged the Senate President to personally lead the intervention towards resolving the issues.

Another lawmaker, Senator Emmanuel Paulker, while contributing to the issue, admitted that the Senate should do all within its power to totally avoid a protracted strike.

He revealed that one of the demands of ASUU is to remove Nigerian universities from the single Treasury Account (TSA) implementation and tasked the FG to find a middle point.

The Senate President therefore commended Senator Jibrin Barau for the urgent matter of national importance and promised prompt intervention.

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