ASUU Strike: APC Lacks Empathy, Says PDP New Generation
- Festus Keyamo's comments that Nigerian parents should beg ASUU to call of their strike has been generating reactions across the country
- The minister has been getting bashing for his comments, with some Nigerians describing him as an arrogant public official
- The PDP New Generation has berated the minister for his comment, while describing the APC-led government as an administration that is insensitive
FCT, Abuja - Youth group, PDP New Generation has described the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a political party without empathy.
The PDP youth group made the declaration in a statement sent to Legit.ng on Saturday, August 6 in reaction to the recent comments made by Festus Keyamo, Nigeria's minister of state for labour and productivity.
Source: Facebook
Keyamo advised Nigerian parents to beg the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over their ongoing strike which started on Monday, February 14.
The minister who made the comment while speaking on Friday, August 5 during an interview on ‘Politics Today’, a programme on Channels Television, said the federal government has no money to meet the demands of ASUU.
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The Director-General of the PDP New Generation, Audu Mahmood said in reaction to Keyamo's stance:
“The unfortunate comments by Keyamo who is also the spokesman of the Bola Tinubu Presidential Campaign Organisation shows that the ruling party has no empathy.
“It was indeed painful to listen to the minister defend the action of this failed government after students in Nigeria have spent six months at home. Keyamo's comments suggest that the Buhari-led government is not interested in what happens to our universities.
“Nigerians, especially University students on strike and their parents, must take note of the insensitivity that has become the hallmark of the APC administration. Empathy is a construct that is fundamental to leadership, but with the APC, we have seen a government that is not interested in the feelings of the people.
“We call on Nigerians to use their PVCs to respond to the APC's wickedness by voting them out in the 2023 general elections.”
Mahmood urged citizens to vote for Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate, adding that his passion for education is unrivalled.
He noted:
“Atiku in partnership with some public-spirited individuals offered full scholarships to 15 out of the girls abducted by the Boko Haram insurgents from Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno state.
“He has been consistent in his investment in education and has not waivered in his continuous advocacy for governments at all levels to prioritize the educational sector.
“We assure Nigerians that if he is voted into power in 2023, the consistent ASUU strike witnessed under the APC government will be a thing of the past.
“We empathize with those affected by the ASUU strike but we assure them that through deliberate and progressive policies in the educational sector, Atiku will make sure parents, students and indeed, the lecturers are happy.”
ASUU strike: Bill to bar children of politicians from foreign education proposed
In a related development, agitation for a legislative bill to bar the children of politicians and other prominent public office holders has begun.
The call was made by the ASUU chapter in Bayelsa, Yenagoa on Tuesday, July 26.
Prof. Kingdom Tombra of the ASUU chapter in the state stated that an attempt to legislate such a bill and pass it will give room for a formidable educational structure and focus in Nigeria.
Despite ongoing ASUU strike, Gbajabiamila returns to school
Meanwhile, Femi Gbajabiamila is currently enrolled in a leadership course at the Harvard Kennedy School, John F. Kennedy School of Government.
The lawmaker who is serving as the current speaker of the House of Representatives announced that he is back to class.
Gbajabiamila made the announcement on his personal Facebook page while sharing various pictures of himself and his classmates.
Source: Legit.ng
