President Bola Tinubu has called on unions leaders and other labour associations in the university system across the country to do their utmost to address the issues of poor work ethics and avoid industrial actions.
Tinubu said that poor work ethics and incessant industrial actions in the university system depreciates the quality of academic programmes in the institutions and called for negotiation and dialogue in resolving labour disputes.
The President made the call during the 7th and 8th combined convocation ceremony of the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State.
Tinubu who was represented by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, Prof Charles Igwe, noted that his administration has always been concerned about the industrial harmony and peace in the universities.
“I want to encourage the unions and labour associations in the university system to do their utmost to address the issues of poor work ethics and avoid industrial actions which will depreciate the quality of academic programmes,” Tinubu said.
He also maintained that his administration has to take hard decisions which short term impact has brought difficulties in the condition of living on the masses without which the socio-economic development of the country would have been in shambles.
He noted that there was absurdity in the Nigeria exporting crude oil earning and foreign exchange prior to his assumption to office where the country ends up importing refine petroleum products.
“From this, the obnoxious payment of the fuel subsidies in many cases for funding refined petroleum products has been eliminated.
“Again, the four refineries in the country could have become non-functional, despite the humongous amount spent on turnaround maintenance. These absurdities was sustained by the regime of fuel subsidy as long as this subsidy subsisted,” the president said.
He maintained that the challenges was bound to persist but his administration had to take the hard and inevitable decision of removing the dubious payment of fuel subsidy.
In his address, the Chancellor of the University, Dr. Michael Aremu Gbadebo commended President Tinubu for his commitment towards revitalising the university education system in the country since assumption of office.
Dr. Gbadebo also commended the President for the establishment of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, describing it as a sure catalyst to increase access to university education for all Nigerians, especially for exceptionally brilliant students.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof Sunday Elom solicited for more Federal Government’s intervention projects especially from TETfund, Ecological Funds Office, NEEDS Assessment and other agencies to bridge the numerous infrastructural gaps in the university.