The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN has criticized the Federal Government over the persistent ASUU industrial strike. The Union has vowed to back the Academic union on the ongoing strike. MHWUN has stated it will not hesitate to declare a solidarity strike in support of the Academic union if government errs to resolve the issue within a reasonable time.
According to a press statement signed by Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria National President, Biobelemoye Josiah, and Acting Secretary -General Auwalu Kiyawa, Government response, and actions are like motion without movement.
The statement read thus “No responsible government would close down its public tertiary institutions in this 21st century because of patriotic demands for better funding of its universities and good welfare for its teaching and non-teaching staff. This is shameful.
“The Leadership of the MHWUN is particularly irked that the Federal Government and the political actors have abandoned the children of the poor masses at home to waste away, instead they are seen dissipating energy and resources that could have been used to resolve the issue to fund political tussle to occupy plum offices that previous occupiers have failed to use for the benefit of the masses. We are more worried about the development because the academic future of the citizenry is being disrupted whereas the politicians and top government officials have their children mostly in well-funded and equipped oversea schools or in relatively expensive private schools in Nigeria.
“Discerning minds will agree with us that the negative impact of the strike on the future of our children and Nigeria, in general, cannot be quantified. We call on people of goodwill to stand up in defense of the right and future of our children and Nigeria, by demanding the government do the right thing and bring back these children to the classroom.
“We condemn in strong terms the lethargic attitude of the government in resolving the issues in contention. To protect the future of our youths whose academic life is being disrupted, we call on the government to implement without further delay all the agreements it had entered with the unions.”
Similarly, SSANU’s National President, Mohammed Ibrahim, urged members of the union to remain resolute.
“While we expect the leaders of our nation to make concerted efforts in living up to our expectations, we, as individuals, must take responsibility for our safety and be security conscious in our daily movements and endeavors,” Ibrahim said.
