Earlyface

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) Saturday insisted on joining the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) after the expiration of its two weeks ultimatum which ends on Thursday, should the Federal Government not find a headway to end the strike.

This is even as President Goodluck Jonathan has vowed that his administration is determined to address teachers shortage in schools in the country, noting that government was aware that the crucial responsibilities of kindling inspiration, encouraging creative thinking, building strong moral character, and providing emotional support to pupils and students are all vested in teachers.

Represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo at the President's Teachers' and Schools' Excellence Award ceremony to mark the 2013 World Teacher's Day.

The National President of NUT, Comrade Michael Olukoya, while fielding questions from newsmen at the event meant to appreciate the invaluable contributions of teachers to the advancement of the nation, advised the Federal Government to set up a team comprising the President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and former presidents like Olusegun Obasanjo and representatives of the Vice Chancellors to meet with ASUU and find a common ground to resolve the impasse, warning that failure of which they will shut down primary and secondary schools in the country to solidarise with their colleagues in the tertiary institutions.

The NUT President while commending the Federal Government for providing N130 billion out of the N400 billion demand of ASUU, said even though it has demonstrated good faith by this action, the past experiences of government reneging on its promises must have caused ASUU to stand its ground this time around, until all demands are met.

Olukoya speaking more on the planned solidarity strike action said, "the National Executive Council of our great union met about 9 days ago wherein the state of the nation was perused.

We discovered that the way and manner education is going in this country is not good and something proactive should be done to change it. So consequent upon that meeting, it was resolved that if in a fortnight the lingering problem between ASUU and federal government is not resolved, we would not hesitate to solidarise with them to ensure that education is properly footed, fitted and transformed".

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