Only Transparency, Sincerity Can Prevent ASUU Strikes – Ex-Education Minister Adeniran

A former minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, has urged the federal government to be transparent and sincere to prevent the incessant strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

He said every problem be solved if the parties involved in the negotiation process are sincere, transparent and committed.

Adeniran who is a former Nigerian Ambassador to Germany stated these in an interview with journalists at the public presentation of his two books titled: “Some thoughts on Education in Nigeria” and “Policy Making and International Security” in Abuja.

The former Education minister Adeniran asserted that education must be given the right attention, saying both goverment and lecturers must see themselves as Nigerians and patriots first during negotiations.

“The ASUU strike occupies a whole chapter in my book which goes into the genesis and what it will take to resolve the incessant and I believe (it is resolvable. There is no problem that cannot be solved, if we are sincere, transparent and committed.

“I believe very much that once we regard education, give it as much attention as possible, support it adequately, and give education the right orientation in this country, we will be able to solve so many problems, even the security problems

“I believe that we are going to solve this question of kidnapping, and banditry and some other things when we generally resolved and resort to build a genuine and true nation, whereby we cater for the needs of everybody,” he said.

On the Nigerien crisis and political climate across Africa, Adeniran warned the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) against making empty threats.

He spoke on the spate of coup d’etat spreading across the continent and ECOWAS threat to use military intervention in restoring democracy in Niger.

“My advice to ECOWAS is that before situations arise, they should be proactive by thinking ahead and when they are thinking ahead, they should also be realistic. It doesn’t pay to make threats that are not credible. If you cannot fulfill, you do not make threats.

“One other thing which is important here is that ECOWAS should pay a lot of attention to good governance. They are shy. They are not ready to tell the various member countries the truth about what is going on.

“When there are certain shortcomings, where we do not have enough commitment to the welfare of the people, they should be bold and courageous enough to let others know because it is of collective interest to have stability, security and above all, to have development that will improve quality of life of citizens.

“Then, at the the national level, my advice would be each of them should go back to the drawing board and have have dialogue with their various constituents then come up with a constitution that will be able to drive development and improve the quality of life of citizens which will also enable them too to govern effectively. By this, they won’t turn themselves to little emperors,” Adeniran said.

Also speaking, a former military governor of Bauchi and Kano states Maj-Gen Chris Garuba (rtd), stated that the Security Council is arguably the most important of the six organs of the United Nations established under the UN Charter.

He said, that is because international peace and security are the raison d’etre of the UN, considering that the organization itself was birthed in October 1945 after World War II to promote international peace and security.

“In the execution of its mandate of maintaining international peace and security, UN spends huge sums of money annually. In the current period of July 2022, to June 2023, an expenditure budget of a whopping $6.45bn was devoted to the 12 active Peacekeeping Missions around the globe.

“The UN is eminently aware that some situations that initially appear like internal security matters international soon security balloon into challenges. Enlightened nations also are aware that national (local/internal) security policies of countries would ultimately have implications on international security. That is why nations keep an eye on what others are doing with their internal security,” Garuba said.